By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Monday declared that the accurate measure of leadership lies beyond power, privilege and pageantry, insisting that what ultimately defines a leader are the values and character that endure long after public office is vacated.
Tinubu spoke in Abuja at the public presentation of From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, a newly published biography of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Dr Charles Omole.
It also unveiled explosive revelations about internal power struggles, political intrigue and abuse of authority during the Buhari administration.
According to the President, history would remember Buhari not for the offices he occupied or the trappings of power that accompanied him, but for his integrity, disciplined lifestyle and belief that public office is a sacred trust.
“The measure of a leader is not the offices he held or the motorcades that accompanied him. It is what persists when the sirens fall silent,” Tinubu said.
“President Muhammadu Buhari left behind a reputation for integrity, a Spartan lifestyle and the conviction that public office is a trust, not a windfall.”
He described Buhari as a leader of quiet strength, restraint and discipline, whose sense of duty was anchored in service rather than spectacle, adding that even his critics often acknowledged his personal honesty.
Tinubu, who said he stood at the event as a brother, friend and political partner of the late President, recalled their shared political journey, particularly the broad coalition that led to the historic 2015 election, which produced the first defeat of an incumbent president through the ballot in Nigeria’s history.
“Together, we built a movement that united diverse interests across the country and proved that Nigeria could chart a new course,” he said, noting that the coalition formed in 2014 has since evolved into one of the fastest-growing political platforms on the African continent.
*Revelation exposes fake orders to impose Lawan at APC presidential primary
Beyond tributes, the book presentation also brought to light startling disclosures about events in the twilight of Buhari’s presidency.
The biography revealed that influential aides close to the former President issued fake presidential orders to the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on the eve of the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, directing them to deploy security forces to impose then Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the party’s preferred candidate.
The book quoted former IGP, Alkali Baba, as stating that the security chiefs rejected the directive and sought an urgent audience with Buhari, who denied issuing any such order and reiterated his long-held position that Nigerians and party delegates must be allowed to choose freely without interference from the state or security agencies.
According to the account, Buhari laughed off claims that he had anointed any candidate and instructed the security services to focus solely on providing a secure environment for the primaries.
*Reveals Aisha Buhari’s role in DSS shake-up
The book further revealed that former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, played a key role in the events that led to the removal of then DSS Director-General, Lawal Daura, during the period when former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was acting President.
It also detailed a family dispute within the Presidential Villa that escalated into gunfire involving a police officer attached to the First Lady’s office. This incident reportedly prompted disciplinary actions ordered directly by Buhari, including the removal of close relatives from the Villa.
Reviewing the book, the author, Dr Charles Omole, said the 600-page work was conceived to present the most comprehensive account of Buhari’s life, deliberately focusing on the man behind the office rather than a defence or critique of his policies.
“This book involved speaking to people who were there when he was born and those who were there when he died,” Omole said, noting that strong institutions, transparent systems and accountability mechanisms must complement integrity in leadership.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig-Gen Buba Marwa (retd), described Buhari as a principled soldier and disciplined statesman whose personal integrity shaped every office he held, recalling instances in which Buhari resisted pressure and upheld merit, even at personal and political cost.
In his remarks, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, said Buhari’s life of discipline, simplicity and accountability left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s history and set enduring standards for public trust and public service.
The event was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including Gambian President Adama Barrow, state governors, members of the Federal Executive Council, former governors, service chiefs, traditional rulers, diplomats and political associates of the late President.
