President Tinubu hailed the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as a pivotal partner in forging a transformative political coalition that unseated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
Speaking at the launch of Buhari’s official biography, From Soldier to Statesman.
The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu recounted their shared journey.
Emphasizing Buhari’s enduring reputation for integrity, spartan lifestyle, and commitment to public service as a sacred trust rather than personal enrichment.
This event, attended by political dignitaries, APC leaders, and Buhari’s family, served as both a tribute and a strategic reminder of the party’s foundational triumphs amid current national challenges.
Tinubu detailed how their alliance, crystallized in 2014, mobilized diverse interests across Nigeria’s complex ethnic and regional landscape.
Culminating in a seismic electoral shift that reshaped the nation’s democracy.
He described the campaign as a nationwide odyssey that proved Nigerians craved change, uniting opposition forces against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) machine.
The APC’s victory marked the first time since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999 that an incumbent president was defeated at the polls.
Afeat Tinubu attributed to Buhari’s personal discipline and strategic foresight.
This coalition not only toppled Jonathan but also laid the groundwork for the APC’s dominance, evolving into what Tinubu called Africa’s fastest-growing political party.
With sustained expansion through subsequent elections and governance milestones.
Buhari’s Personal Qualities Shaped National Leadership
President Tinubu painted Buhari as a paragon of humility and self-discipline, qualities he argued are essential for systemic reform.
“President Muhammadu Buhari left behind a reputation for integrity, a spartan lifestyle, and the belief that public office is a trust and not a windfall.”
Tinubu stated, evoking images of Buhari’s modest living standards that contrasted sharply with perceptions of elite opulence in Nigerian politics.
This ethos, Tinubu explained, fostered a leadership model where personal example precedes policy mandates, compelling public servants to align with ethical benchmarks.
Buhari’s preference for simplicity over extravagance underscored a philosophy that true authority stems from moral authority.
Influencing generations of APC leaders and reinforcing the party’s anti-corruption narrative.
The biography launch highlighted Buhari’s investments in human capital and institutional strengthening.
Particularly in security sectors plagued by insurgency and banditry during his tenure.
Tinubu noted how Buhari enhanced capacities within the armed forces, procuring equipment and training personnel to combat Boko Haram more effectively.
Reforms that yielded measurable gains in territorial reclamation.
These efforts, often overshadowed by headline crises, endured as structural legacies, enabling subsequent administrations to build upon fortified defenses.
Tinubu’s remarks implicitly defended Buhari’s record against critics who focused on economic hardships, framing them as necessary sacrifices for long-term stability and justice.
Coalition’s Broader Impact on Nigerian Democracy
The 2014 coalition represented a masterclass in political realignment, merging Tinubu’s southwestern progressives with Buhari’s northern conservatives and southern minorities into a formidable bloc.
Tinubu reminisced about crisscrossing the country, from Lagos markets to Kano mosques, selling a vision of renewed federalism and economic prudence.
This grassroots mobilization dismantled PDP’s 16-year stranglehold, injecting competitiveness into Nigeria’s democracy and setting precedents for future oppositions.
Today, with APC controlling 22 states and federal power, the party’s growth trajectory validates the coalition’s resilience.
Even as internal fissures and economic headwinds test its cohesion ahead of 2027 polls.
Tinubu outlined four pillars of Buhari’s legacy, humility, security, vision, and social justice, as timeless guides for governance.
Humility manifested in Buhari’s deference to constitutional limits, avoiding third-term temptations that plagued predecessors.
Security advancements, from military modernizations to community policing initiatives, curbed insurgencies that once threatened national sovereignty.
Visionary policies like the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme empowered millions of farmers.
While social justice efforts targeted youth unemployment and infrastructure deficits in underserved regions.
These elements, Tinubu argued, transcended partisan divides, embedding progressive ideals into Nigeria’s body politic.
Legacy of Reforms Beyond Headlines
Buhari’s administration prioritized enduring platforms over ephemeral gains, a strategy Tinubu lauded for its foresight.
Reforms in agriculture boosted rice production by over 300%, reducing import dependency and saving billions in foreign exchange.
Infrastructure projects, including the Second Niger Bridge and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Symbolized commitment to connectivity, easing burdens on ordinary Nigerians.
Tinubu credited Buhari’s personnel selections, appointing technocrats like Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed.
Ffor stabilizing macroeconomic indicators despite global shocks like COVID-19 and oil price crashes.
These achievements, often critiqued for implementation delays, laid invisible foundations that current policies leverage.
Critics might counter that Buhari’s tenure grappled with inflation spikes and naira depreciation.
Yet Tinubu reframed these as inherited burdens compounded by sabotage.
The coalition’s success proved voter appetite for integrity-driven change, a lesson resonant today amid subsidy removal debates and insecurity resurgences.
By invoking this history, Tinubu positions APC as heir to an unbroken legacy, rallying base loyalty while courting swing voters nostalgic for 2015’s promise.
Implications for APC’s 2027 Ambitions
As Nigeria navigates fiscal squeezes and electoral preparations, Tinubu’s speech doubles as campaign primer, reminding supporters of APC’s disruptive origins.
Domestically, it counters opposition narratives of APC fatigue by celebrating Buhari’s intangibles.
Discipline that tamed excesses, vision that realigned priorities.
Tinubu’s presence at the launch, flanked by Vice President Kashim Shettima and party chieftains, underscores unity signaling amid rumors of discord.
This narrative of triumph over incumbency foreshadows 2027 strategies, where APC aims to replicate 2015’s coalition magic against PDP resurgence.
Tinubu pledged continuity in Buhari’s mold, prioritizing self-reform before national overhaul.
While addressing youth aspirations through digital economy drives.
The biography, penned by Bayo Onanuga, immortalizes these stories, ensuring Buhari’s influence persists in APC ideology.
Enduring Lessons from a Political Partnership
Buhari’s legacy endures in APC’s charter, embedding anti-corruption as core DNA.
As the event transitioned to book signings and receptions, attendees reflected on how 2015’s “historic victory” redefined possibilities, inspiring current reformers.
Tinubu’s address, blending nostalgia with forward gaze, reaffirms APC’s narrative dominance.
Positioning President Tinubu as faithful steward of Buhari’s vision amid Nigeria’s evolving challenges.
