Professor Alkasum Abba, a former vice-chancellor of Adamawa State University (ADSU), Mubi, has ignited a fierce debate by claiming that no Fulani person has ever served as Nigeria's president or vice president, except former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He specifically argued that late former President Muhammadu Buhari was wrongly identified as Fulani.
Professor Abba's Assertions on Buhari's Ethnicity
In a recent interview on Trust TV's Inside The North, monitored by Legit.ng, Professor Abba stated: "Buhari was often declared Fulani. He is a Hausa man; when he speaks, you would know it is the Daura accent of Hausa. He is not a Fulani man." He further claimed: "I told people that there was no single Fulani man who became president or vice president of Nigeria except Atiku Abubakar, even under the military."
Online Reactions and Debate
The professor's remarks have sparked widespread reactions on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), user @Awele60930222 commented: "Buhari wasn’t a Fulani man? Why this bombshell revelation now, or this is the usual taqiya?" Another user, @HalcyonHorn, queried: "How can one look at both of them and declare Atiku is Fulani but Buhari isn't." Tijjani Imam wrote: "Buhari used to claim he's Fulani in his writings, including his history book. Shagari too claimed he was Fulani when he was president."
Background on Buhari's Life and Death
Muhammadu Buhari, a Nigerian general and politician, served as military head of state from 1983 to 1985 and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023. After leaving office, he largely withdrew from public life and travelled to London for medical treatment. He died at a clinic in London on July 13, 2025, and was buried at his residence in Daura, Katsina state.
Previous Controversies
Legit.ng previously reported that Aisha Buhari, the former first lady, disclosed that her husband began locking his room after rumors circulated that she planned to have him killed. She stated that Buhari believed the gossip and altered his habits as a result.
