Fresh revelation has emerged on why former President Muhammadu Buhari declined to publicly support a successor ahead of the 2022 presidential election.
The explanation is contained in a newly released book that
explores Buhari’s leadership approach, security mindset, and management of
power within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Titled “From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu
Buhari”, the book was unveiled in Abuja and provides behind-the-scenes accounts
of critical decisions taken during Buhari’s presidency.
Authored by Dr Charles Omole, Director General of the
Institute for Police and Security Policy Research (IPSPR), the 600-page work
compiles reflections from senior officials who closely worked with the former
president.
A key revelation came from the former Director General of
the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, who addressed the
long-running debate over Buhari’s refusal to anoint a preferred candidate
during the APC presidential primary.
According to Bichi, Buhari intentionally avoided endorsing
any aspirant to safeguard lives and maintain internal party cohesion.
He disclosed that intelligence reports at the time indicated
that openly backing a candidate could expose such an individual to grave
security risks amid an intense and highly competitive political atmosphere.
Bichi noted that Buhari’s silence was often misinterpreted
as a lack of interest, but it was actually a deliberate, security-driven
strategy aimed at preventing internal crisis and possible disintegration within
the ruling party.
He noted that the former president believed that publicly
naming a successor would heighten rivalries, increase hostility, and
potentially place the endorsed individual in physical danger.
“In those months, knives were out; politically and, as
security professionals know too well, sometimes literally,” Bichi stated in the
book.
He added that Buhari chose to absorb criticism rather than
risk destabilising the party or endangering human life.
The former DSS chief said Buhari felt that allowing the
primary process to play out freely helped distribute political risk among
aspirants and prevented the concentration of hostility on one individual.
The book presentation which attracted a high-profile
audience at the Presidential Villa, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
Gambian President Adama Barrow, governors, ministers, diplomats, traditional
rulers, and members of Buhari’s family.
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