Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has dismissed allegations that President Bola Tinubu exploited the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political gain, arguing that Tinubu’s actions instead set a new standard for honouring departed leaders.
Buhari, who died in London on July 13, was buried in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, with Tinubu leading a high-profile delegation that remained present throughout the burial rites.
Critics had accused Tinubu of using the occasion to court northern support ahead of the 2027 elections, but Sani countered these claims in a social media post, highlighting the president’s unprecedented gestures.
These included declaring a national public holiday, convening a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Buhari’s honour, renaming a federal university after him, and personally attending the burial to console the family. Sani noted that Buhari himself had never extended such honours to predecessors during his tenure, making Tinubu’s actions historically significant.
“The President physically attended the burial, met the family, declared a holiday, held an FEC tribute, and immortalised Buhari institutionally—something the late president never did for others,” Sani wrote. “Yet some claim he’s ‘exploiting’ the death. What would they say if he’d done nothing?”.
The remarks came amid heated debates over Tinubu’s motives, with opposition parties like the African Democratic Congress (ADC) accusing the administration of hypocrisy, given its past criticisms of Buhari’s policies.
The Presidency, through spokesman Sunday Dare, rebuffed the ADC’s claims as “shameless” and “obnoxious,” asserting that Buhari’s state funeral reflected genuine respect, not political theatre.
Dare cited global dignitaries’ attendance and nationwide mourning as evidence of the late leader’s stature. Meanwhile, Sani urged Nigerians to reflect on the broader lesson: that leaders’ legacies are ultimately judged by their service, not posthumous ceremonies.
The controversy underscores Nigeria’s polarised political climate, where even tributes become contested terrain. While Tinubu’s allies frame his actions as restorative, bridging past tensions with the Buhari camp, detractors see calculated image-making. Sani’s intervention, however, frames the debate as one about precedent: whether Tinubu’s honours reset expectations for how Nigeria memorialises its leaders.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
