Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, has publicly criticised the recent publication and launch of a biography on the late President Muhammadu Buhari, describing aspects of the event as concerning "red flags." The book, titled 'From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari', was launched at the State House in Abuja on Monday, December 15, 2025.
El-Rufai's Critique of the Book Launch
In a statement made via social media, El-Rufai expressed strong disapproval of the circumstances surrounding the biography's unveiling. He took issue with the choice of venue, the Presidential Villa, suggesting it was inappropriate. Furthermore, El-Rufai questioned the loyalty of those who attended the high-profile launch, which was graced by President Bola Tinubu, governors and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and members of Buhari's family led by his wife, Aisha.
El-Rufai alleged that the event was dominated by one faction within the late president's inner circle, while other factions were conspicuously ignored. He stated that the publication has stirred "deep emotions and renewed divisions" among those who were close to Buhari.
Call for Respect and Contentious Revelations
The former governor made a poignant appeal, urging Nigerians to allow the late president to rest in peace and to let him, in death, be the one to respond to various claims and allegations. El-Rufai, whose own ministerial nomination was previously rejected by the Senate leading to his exit from the APC, voiced displeasure with the media headlines generated by excerpts from the book.
He accused some individuals featured in the book of blaming Buhari for "every Nigerian's problem" for their own self-justification. Without naming names, El-Rufai contrasted this with his portrayal of Buhari as "a man of deep faith, personal discipline, and unquestioned patriotism" until his death in June 2025.
The Biography and Its Contents
The controversial 600-page biography was authored by Dr. Charles Omole. It chronicles Buhari's life from his childhood in Daura, Katsina State, to his final moments in a London hospital. The book includes accounts from immediate family members, including his wife Aisha and daughter Fatima.
According to earlier reports, the biography attempts to answer ten controversial questions regarding events that occurred during Buhari's administration, which has contributed to its sensational coverage in the press. Since leaving the APC and joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC), El-Rufai has become a vocal critic of the ruling party and has consistently predicted that President Tinubu will lose a re-election bid in 2027.
