The claim that former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died recently in London, had been secretly replaced by a body double named Jubril al-Sudani gripped social media and sparked intense conspiracy theories.
For years, a bizarre and persistent rumour haunted Nigeria’s political landscape.
Now, a former Abia State Commissioner of Information, John Okiyi Kalu, sets the record straight.
The Rumour That Refused to Die
The cloning theory burst into the public scene during Buhari’s first term after 2017.
Allegedly, Buhari died while undergoing medical treatment in London and was covertly replaced by Jubril, a Sudanese imposter.
The narrative was boosted by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed IPOB, who insisted the presidency conspired to maintain the secret.
Despite Buhari’s own laughter-filled public denials during a 2018 visit to Poland, suspicion lingered.
People questioned the president’s identity, fueling divisiveness and distrust in government.
Firsthand Confirmation at Aso Rock
John Okiyi Kalu, who served from 2015 to 2023 in Abia State under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, dispelled the cloning rumour decisively.
In a detailed Facebook post on July 15, 2025, Kalu recounted his encounters with Buhari moments that erased any doubt about the president’s authenticity.
He explained that he met Buhari twice.
First in Aba in January 2015 during the APC campaign,.
And then more personally in December 2018 at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Enyimba Economic City project at Aso Rock.
Verifying the Man: Not a Clone But the Real Buhari
Kalu admitted that despite never believing the fable, he approached Aso Rock with curiosity, keen on proving who the real man was.
His childhood memories of General Buhari the prayer mark on the forehead, height, broad smile guided his scrutiny.
His verdict was blunt: “The Buhari I saw that day was the same General Muhammadu Buhari we knew since 1983.”
What surprised him, Kalu added, was Buhari’s honesty and jovial spirit during the official ceremony.
Sharing light moments with Governor Ikpeazu, Buhari displayed sharp wit, debunking myths with charm rather than defensiveness.
Buhari’s Mortality and Public Distrust
The Buhari-Jubril cloning rumour theory thrived due to a toxic mix of Buhari’s prolonged medical absences and the Nigerian government’s poor transparency.
A lack of clear communication from the presidency coaxed wild speculation.
Political opponents and separatists exploited this vacuum to amplify the conspiracy, deepening public cynicism about leadership.
Experts note that such theories flourish where governments obscure facts or behave defensively instead of openness.
Political Weaponization of Rumours
Nnamdi Kanu’s continued push of the Buhari-Jubril cloning rumour claim added fuel to the fire.
For some, the rumour wasn’t about truth but political strategy.
By questioning Buhari’s identity, IPOB aimed to erode the legitimacy of Nigeria’s ruling class.
The public’s readiness to believe such stories also hints at a desperate search for explanations amid political frustration and corruption scandals.
Buhari’s Own Words: A Rare Public Denial
Buhari publicly addressed the cloning allegations during a climate conference in Poland in 2018.
His reaction mixed humor with frustration.
He described the rumours as “ignorant” and “irreligious,” refusing to dignify them with lengthy responses.
Still, these denials barely quelled conspiracy theories, which remained a hot topic even years later.
Beyond The Man: Why The Rumour Matters
This Buhari-Jubril cloning rumour exposes a deeper crisis in Nigerian governance: trust deficit.
If citizens cannot trust their leaders’ existence, how can they trust their promises or policies?
The joke about cloning morphs into a tragic metaphor for the opaque nature of statecraft.
Kalu’s revelations challenge Nigerians to question what drives conspiracy fear, misinformation, or genuine governance failures.
A Call For Transparency and Accountability
The Buhari-Jubril cloning myth reflects systemic flaws.
The Buhari administration’s inability to manage health crises openly fed the fire of suspicion.
Kalu’s insistence on fact-checking instead of blind belief calls on future leaders to restore faith through openness, not silence.
If Nigeria’s democracy is to mature, it needs transparency that preempts dangerous fictions rather than fires them.
A Nation Divided by Doubt
Sadly, the cloning rumour underscored Nigeria’s polarized landscape.
Political, ethnic, and regional divides found in the allegation a convenient wedge.
With Buhari’s death on July 14, 2025, in a London hospital and burial in Daura, the ghost of Jubril remains a legacy question.
Kalu’s testimony may not change believers’ minds but serves as a reasoned voice amid chaos.
Separating Fact from Fantasy
On July 15, 2025, John Okiyi Kalu shattered the cloning myth with personal experience and measured observations.
He described meeting “the real Buhari” at Aso Rock, a moment that proved the rumours baseless.
Yet, the persistence of the theory demands reflection on Nigeria’s governance failures, communication lapses, and the political climate that nurtured such paranoia.
If the country hopes to heal and progress, leaders must rebuild trust by confronting rumours head-on, embracing transparency, and listening to their people.
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