Why Buhari-Tinubu bond remains unshaken, a ‘nightmare’ for opposition — Presidency
...Says relationship a foundation for future party unity, progress
By Matthew Denis
The Presidency has described the enduring political relationship between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, as a “nightmare” for opposition politicians who had hoped for a fracture between the two influential leaders.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media, Publicity and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman, made this known in an insightful article released to journalists on Sunday.
According to Rahman, despite efforts to sow divisions between the two men, their political alliance remains robust and continues to serve as a pillar of strength for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite leaving office two years ago, Buhari still maintains a cordial relationship with the president.
In a statement made available to Nigerian NewsDirect on Sunday, Rahman said, “The special relationship between President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari has witnessed many remarkable moments.
“The two leaders have pressed forward to the admiration of their mutual friends and associates, and the bewilderment – I dare say, disappointment – of others who would have preferred them to part ways long ago.”
Narrating further, he said, “One important moment readily comes to mind. It was towards the end of 2017, two years into the Buhari presidency.
“The former president was travelling to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for the 5th African Union-European Union Summit, which took place from November 28th to 30th, and had invited Asiwaju Tinubu to join his entourage.
“Coming from Buhari, the invitation was a pleasant surprise to the then All Progressives Congress National Leader, given that the administration he had worked tirelessly, alongside others, to bring into existence had largely sidelined him after taking power in 2015.
“The Côte d’Ivoire invitation, therefore, represented one of the few occasions he would be directly contacted. As it turned out, taking Tinubu along on that trip proved beneficial. Tinubu attended several official meetings and engagements with the former president, including the meeting with the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire. Buhari referred to this during that trip.”
Speaking about Tinubu while addressing the Nigerian Community in that country on the sidelines of the summit, the former president had said, “I must thank our Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has brought me a very beautiful piece of information, which I was not aware of until I sat down and read it. Thank you very much for your hard work, and I will discuss that paper with you.”
Many were left wondering what piece of information Tinubu had offered Buhari at that time. But with the 2019 election approaching, Buhari needed to rally his supporters for re-election.
In Rahman’s view, there was a need to tap into Tinubu’s strategic support and extensive political network once again. Each time Tinubu had an opportunity to visit Buhari at the Presidential Villa, it was to offer ideas and suggestions about the direction for the government and the country. Rahman, who was always present, knows this as a fact.
Tinubu had played a pivotal role in helping Buhari reach power in 2015 after the General’s three unsuccessful attempts. An alliance between Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which had faltered in 2011, was revived in the run-up to the 2015 election. This revived alliance between the North-west and South-west proved crucial in Buhari’s presidential victory.
For the first time in a while, the former president recently spoke about this invaluable support and strong relationship with Tinubu in a telephone call to the President on his 73rd birthday.
According to a statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari underscored the bond between him and Tinubu. He acknowledged that both he and his family remain indebted to President Tinubu and other APC leaders for their significant contributions to the formation of the party, which helped him secure two terms as president and propelled another APC administration, with Tinubu at its helm.
“No doubt, the annals of the country would not be complete without recognising the varied and numerous roles of President Tinubu as an entrepreneur, a party stalwart, a staunch activist, a party organiser, a party builder, a reliable ally, and a serial winner of democratic elections. I am truly proud of my association with Asiwaju,” the former president said.
President Tinubu, for his part, has consistently praised the virtues of former President Buhari. For instance, on Buhari’s 82nd birthday last December 17, Tinubu penned a moving tribute to the former president.
He wrote: “Dear President Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to you on your 82nd Birthday.
“As you celebrate this remarkable milestone in Daura, we reflect on your years of dedicated service and leadership, which have significantly shaped the course of our nation. Your steadfast commitment to Nigeria’s advancement and unity inspires many, and your enduring legacy continues to guide our nation’s journey towards prosperity and stability.”
Praising Buhari for his determination and resilience in contesting presidential elections in 2003, 2007, and 2011 before securing victory in 2015 and 2019, Tinubu noted, “You inspired us never to give up,” and assured him, “I will continue to build on the infrastructure legacy you left behind as the leader of our country’s first All Progressives Congress administration.”
From the foregoing, it is clear that, despite minor strains created by some palace courtiers when Buhari was in office, the relationship between Tinubu and Buhari continues to thrive, based on mutual respect and affection. As with every association, challenges have arisen. In the case of Buhari and Tinubu, this strain manifested in the sidelining of Asiwaju, especially during Buhari’s first term in office, and in efforts by some in the Buhari government to thwart Tinubu’s presidential ambitions in 2023.
However, it seems that this relationship has weathered the storms and is now stronger than ever. Contrary to the impression held in some quarters, particularly among opposition politicians, the remarks made by the former president during a visit by APC Governors, who paid him Eid-el-Fitri homage in his Kaduna residence, did not in any way undermine their accord.
During the visit, Buhari had urged political leaders to embrace humility, transparency, and a citizen-first approach to governance. He disclosed that he left office without any personal material gain, stressing that true leadership is measured not by personal accumulation, but by public service and its impact.
Garba Shehu once again quoted the former president in a statement he issued, “Leaders must always prioritise the welfare of citizens over personal or partisan interests. I left office with the same physical assets I had before becoming President.”
Buhari also expressed satisfaction with the renovations to his Kaduna home and thanked the Tinubu administration for the improvements made inside the building.
“Outwardly, the house looks the same, but the renovations have been significant,” he said.
During the visit, Buhari reiterated his call for political leaders to embrace humility, transparency, and a citizen-first approach to governance, emphasising that he left office without any personal material gain.
However, when the APC governors requested that he urge his CPC associates not to leave the party, the former president reportedly refrained from committing.
While reaffirming his loyalty to the APC, Buhari reportedly insisted that others should be allowed to make their own political choices. Some analysts interpreted this as him potentially aligning with the opposition.
It should also be recalled that recently, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai defected to the Social Democratic Party. In a BBC Hausa interview, he claimed to have left the APC with Buhari’s blessing.
The former president, however, used the opportunity to clear the air, stating that he remains fully loyal to the APC and would never abandon the party that made his presidency possible.
“I am a proud APC member, and I will always be known as one. I will continue to do everything I can to promote and support the party,” Buhari stated, without directly addressing El-Rufai’s claims.
According to Rahman, opposition politicians are currently scrambling for Buhari’s support and endorsement to validate their plans for 2027. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, along with allies like El-Rufai, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, and former Adamawa State Governor Bindow Jibrilla, visited the former president in Kaduna last Thursday to pay homage and mark the end of Ramadan fasting and the Sallah festivities.
Rahman remarked, “In all of this, and his remarks to the APC governors who visited him in Kaduna, has former President Buhari, thus far, deviated from or abandoned the accord between him and President Tinubu, and the spirit of friendship, mutual understanding, cooperation, and reciprocal support that underpins their relationship? There is nothing to suggest so.
“The special relationship between President Tinubu and former President Buhari remains rock solid. The two eminent leaders will continue to cooperate and collaborate to sustain party unity and promote progressive governance.”
It is worth recalling that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, and other top political figures on a visit to Buhari on Friday.