Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna state governor, has urged Nigerians to allow the late President Muhammadu Buhari to “rest in peace.”
The former governor’s appeal followed renewed debates triggered by a recently launched biography.
The publication, “From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari”, authored by Charles Omole, was presented on Monday at the State House by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement released on Thursday, el-Rufai said the book’s unveiling had reignited long-standing political fractures among Buhari’s associates and risked reshaping his legacy to serve “narrow interests” rather than historical balance.
He argued that the figures who took centre stage at the event reflected entrenched divisions that characterised Buhari’s inner circle during his lifetime, with some prominent allies conspicuously absent.
“A careful look at those who dominated the book launch revealed the same factional lines that existed during Buhari’s lifetime,” he said.
El-Rufai said both the exclusion of certain loyalists and the decision to host the launch at the State House should have raised concerns.
He also criticised the involvement of individuals who had previously opposed Buhari, accusing some of offering tributes he described as lacking sincerity.
According to him, several of those now eulogising Buhari neither commanded his confidence nor enjoyed his regard while he was alive.
“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.”
El-Rufai said he had yet to read the book but warned that selective disclosures attributed to a deceased leader could misrepresent his intentions.
“Explaining the thoughts and motivations of a complex leader through selective anecdotes risks distorting, rather than preserving, his legacy,” he said.
While acknowledging that Buhari’s presidency disappointed many supporters, el-Rufai argued that key failures were driven by the actions of influential figures around him rather than by Buhari 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.
He described Buhari as “a man of deep faith, personal discipline, and unquestioned patriotism” and urged those invoking his name for justification to reflect on whether they embodied similar principles.
“My appeal here is simple: to all Nigerians, admirers and critics alike—let President Muhammadu Buhari rest in peace,” el-Rufai said.
He concluded by calling for Buhari’s legacy to be assessed by history without opportunism, distortion or revisionism.