Halima Buhari, daughter of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, speaking on Wednesday, at the launch of Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s new book, revealed that her late father was conscious of the frustration from Nigerians about the promises his administration made during campaigns and the realities of governance after assuming office.
Halima stated that her father was not insulated from the voices of disappointed Nigerians. She revealed he often agonized over his inability to fully meet the high expectations placed on him regarding economic recovery and national security. She described the former president as a reserved man who preferred listening to speaking;
Behind every soundbite, there was a human being; sometimes tired, sometimes determined, sometimes frustrated, always painfully aware that his decisions impacted millions of lives. While the public saw President Buhari, the family saw “Baba”, a man who grappled privately with the imperfect choices and trade-offs required by Nigerian leadership – Halima Buhari
Halima emphasized that the family’s presence was not an attempt to sanitize history, acknowledging that Buhari’s legacy would remain a subject of debate through various accounts and perspectives.
The event, held at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, was a posthumous tribute organised for the late Muhammadu Buhari on his 83rd birthday who passed away on July 13, 2025, in London at the age of 82.
The book, titled “Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration”, was authored by Lai Mohammed, the longest-serving Minister of Information in the history of Nigeria. The launch provided a platform for both political allies and family members to assess the legacy of the late president.
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