The former governor also criticised the role of some current office holders who, according to him, were once outspoken critics of Buhari but appeared at the event to praise him.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has said the civilian administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari did not meet the expectations of many of those who supported him, stating that “many of us who supported him expected much more from his civilian presidency.”
El-Rufai argued that much of the Buhari administration’s shortcomings stemmed from the actions and failures of a powerful inner circle, such as relatives, advisers, and officials.
He made the remarks in a statement titled “Let President Muhammadu Buhari Rest in Peace,” dated December 17, 2025, following the recent launch of a book on the life and legacy of the former president.
According to El-Rufai, the launch of the book titled, ‘Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, “stirred deep emotions and renewed divisions among those who once formed his inner circle,” prompting him to issue what he described as “a simple but urgent appeal: let us allow President Buhari to rest in peace.”
He said that “a careful look at those who dominated the book launch revealed the same factional lines that existed during Buhari’s lifetime,” adding that “one camp was prominently represented, while others—equally close to the late president—were excluded.”
El-Rufai further said that the situation was worsened by “the choice of location of the event,” which he described as “red flags,” arguing that these developments raise “about whether Buhari’s legacy is now being shaped to serve narrow interests rather than historical truth.”
The former governor also criticised the role of some current office holders who, according to him, were once outspoken critics of Buhari but appeared at the event to praise him.
“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.
“These are individuals who once blamed his administration for nearly every challenge facing Nigeria, but who now appear eager to revise history—perhaps to deflect responsibility for present failures.”
El-Rufai also said it was “unsettling to see individuals celebrating Buhari in death who had neither his trust nor his respect in life,” stressing that “President Buhari was a principled man who did not easily forget personal or political disrespect, and he made his preferences clear to those around him.”
He added that Buhari “made his preferences clear to those around him,” implying that some of those now eulogising him did not enjoy his confidence while he was alive.
On the content of the book itself, El-Rufai said he had not yet read it and cautioned that “it is possible that some media reports lack context.”
However, he maintained that “many of the so-called revelations attributed to the late president appear one-sided and unfair,” particularly because “he is no longer alive to respond.”
El-Rufai warned that “explaining the thoughts and motivations of a complex leader through selective anecdotes risks distorting, rather than preserving, his legacy.”
Reflecting more broadly on Buhari’s record in office, El-Rufai said, “President Buhari was far from perfect,” adding that “many of us who supported him expected much more from his civilian presidency.”
He said his long association with Buhari informed his assessment, noting that he had worked with the former president “closely with him in opposition political, and governance roles for over a decade.”
Based on that experience, El-Rufai said, “I believe much of his administration’s shortcomings stemmed from the actions and failures of a powerful inner circle—relatives, advisers, and officials who did not always share his commitment to integrity and public service.”
Despite these criticisms, El-Rufai defended Buhari’s personal character, saying, “Buhari himself remained, to the end, a man of deep faith, personal discipline, and unquestioned patriotism.”
He added that “those now invoking his name for self-justification should reflect on whether they can claim the same standards.”
In his closing remarks, El-Rufai appealed to Nigerians across political divides, saying, “My appeal here is simple: to all Nigerians: admirers and critics alike—let President Muhammadu Buhari rest in peace.”
He urged that Buhari’s legacy should be assessed without manipulation, calling for history to judge him “fairly, without opportunism or revisionism.”
According to El-Rufai, “the truest way to honour him is not through selective storytelling, or attempting to exhibit new-found love, but by upholding the values he embodied: simplicity, integrity, humility, and service to Nigeria with all he had.”