Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna state governor, has appealed to Nigerians to allow late President Muhammadu Buhari to “rest in peace”, amid growing controversy surrounding the recent launch of a book on the former president’s life and legacy.
The book ‘From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari’, a biography written by Charles Omole, was launched on Monday at the State House by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on Thursday, el-Rufai said the book launch had reopened old divisions within Buhari’s political circle and risked turning the late president’s legacy into a tool for “narrow interests” rather than an honest historical record.
He said the composition of those who featured prominently at the book launch reflected the same factional divisions that existed during Buhari’s lifetime, with some close associates noticeably absent.
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“A careful look at those who dominated the book launch revealed the same factional lines that existed during Buhari’s lifetime,” he said.
The former governor added that the exclusion of certain allies and the choice of venue were “red flags”.
El-Rufai also faulted the presence of long-time critics of Buhari at the event, accusing some of delivering what he described as insincere tributes.
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He argued that some of those praising Buhari in death neither enjoyed his trust nor his respect while he was alive.
The politician noted that the former president was not known to easily overlook political or personal disrespect.
“More troubling was the presence of long-time critics of Buhari, some of whom now hold high office, delivering glowing, but clearly faked tributes,” he said.
“It was unsettling to see individuals celebrating Buhari in death who had neither his trust nor his respect in life.”
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While noting that he had not yet read the book, el-Rufai cautioned against the “selective revelations” attributed to a man no longer alive to defend himself.
“Explaining the thoughts and motivations of a complex leader through selective anecdotes risks distorting, rather than preserving, his legacy,” he said.
El-Rufai acknowledged that Buhari’s presidency fell short of expectations, including among his supporters, but said many of the administration’s shortcomings were driven by the failures of influential figures around him rather than the late president himself.
“As someone who worked closely with him in opposition, political, and governance roles for over a decade, I believe much of his administration’s shortcomings stemmed from the actions and failures of a powerful inner circle,” he said.
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He described Buhari as “a man of deep faith, personal discipline, and unquestioned patriotism”, urging those “invoking” his name for political or personal justification to reflect on whether they lived by the same values.
“My appeal here is simple: to all Nigerians, admirers and critics alike—let President Muhammadu Buhari rest in peace,” el-Rufai said.
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He called for Buhari’s legacy to be judged fairly by history, without what he termed opportunism or revisionism.
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