In a rare and deeply personal public address, Halima Buhari, daughter of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has shed light on the private burdens her late father carried while in office. She revealed that he was acutely conscious of the widespread disappointment felt by many Nigerians over unmet expectations during his administration.
A Candid Admission of Public Sentiment
Speaking at an event in Abuja on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Halima Buhari addressed a distinguished gathering that included former ministers, ex-governors, and traditional rulers. The occasion was the presentation of a book authored by former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Halima stated unequivocally that her father knew many citizens who had placed great hope in his leadership, particularly regarding security and economic recovery, felt let down. She emphasized that the former president was neither insulated from public criticism nor dismissive of opposing views, fully understanding the gap between promises made and the reality of governance.
The Private Man Behind the Public Figure
Halima painted a portrait of Muhammadu Buhari as a deeply reserved individual, markedly different from his public persona. "Behind every soundbite, there was a human being; sometimes tired, sometimes determined, sometimes frustrated, always painfully aware that his decisions impacted millions of lives," she shared.
She described the man she knew at home as "simply Baba," a listener who carried the nation's worries quietly. "I saw the man who would sit quietly, listening more than he spoke. The man who worried about the security of ordinary people. The man who agonised over the gap between what was promised and what was possible," Halima recounted.
Leadership, Compromise, and a Legacy Open to Debate
Reflecting on the nature of governance, Halima Buhari argued that leading a complex nation like Nigeria is fraught with difficult choices. "Leadership, especially in a country as complex as Nigeria, is never as straightforward as it looks from the outside. It involves trade-offs, compromises, and very often, imperfect choices," she explained.
Crucially, she insisted that the event was not an attempt to rewrite history or sanitize her father's legacy. She affirmed that public debate over his years in office remains a vital part of Nigeria's democratic engagement. "Nigerians will continue to debate his legacy as they should in a vibrant democracy. There will be books that praise, books that criticise, and books that will try to document," she concluded, acknowledging that the final assessment of his presidency is still unfolding.
