a new revelation has come to light regarding former president muhammadu buhari’s decision not to publicly name a preferred successor before the 2022 presidential election.
this explanation is detailed in a recently launched book titled “from soldier to statesman: the legacy of muhammadu buhari,” a work that explores the former president’s governance style, security approach, and handling of power within the all progressives congress (apc).
the book, authored by dr. charles omole, director general of the institute for police and security policy research, is a six hundred-page compilation of insights from senior officials who worked closely with buhari and was unveiled in abuja.
a key disclosure came from the former director general of the department of state services (dss), yusuf bichi, who addressed the persistent question about why buhari did not anoint a candidate during the apc presidential primary.
bichi revealed that buhari intentionally refrained from endorsing any aspirant as a measure to safeguard lives and maintain internal party cohesion.
he disclosed that intelligence gathered at that time indicated that if buhari had openly backed a candidate, it could have exposed that individual to serious security risks, given the intense and highly competitive political environment.
bichi explained that buhari’s silence, often misconstrued as a lack of interest, was actually a deliberate security-driven strategy aimed at preventing internal crisis and the potential breakup of the ruling party.
he noted that the former president believed publicly naming a successor would intensify rivalries, increase hostility, and potentially put the endorsed person in physical danger.
bichi is quoted in the book as saying, “in those months, knives were out; politically and, as security professionals know too well, sometimes literally.”
he added that buhari consciously chose to endure public criticism rather than risk destabilizing the apc or endangering human lives.
the former dss chief further explained that buhari felt that by allowing the primary process to proceed freely, the political risk was distributed among all the aspirants, preventing hostility from being concentrated on a single individual.
the book presentation was a high-profile event held at the presidential villa, attended by current president bola ahmed tinubu, gambian president adama barrow, governors, ministers, diplomats, traditional rulers, and members of buhari’s family.
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