A new insight has emerged explaining why former President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately refrained from publicly supporting any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2022 general election.
The revelation is contained in a newly published book that examines Buhari’s governing philosophy, his security-oriented worldview, and his handling of political power within the All Progressives Congress (APC). The book, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, was recently unveiled in Abuja and sheds light on several sensitive decisions taken during his time in office.
Written by Dr. Charles Omole, Director-General of the Institute for Police and Security Policy Research (IPSPR), the 600-page publication draws extensively from interviews and reflections of top government and security officials who worked closely with the former president. It offers behind-the-scenes perspectives on Buhari’s leadership style, particularly his cautious approach to political transitions.
One of the most striking disclosures in the book comes from Yusuf Bichi, former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), who addressed the long-standing controversy surrounding Buhari’s refusal to anoint a preferred candidate during the APC presidential primaries.
According to Bichi, Buhari’s decision was not borne out of indifference or indecision, as widely speculated at the time, but was a calculated move guided by security considerations. Intelligence assessments, he revealed, suggested that openly endorsing a candidate could expose that individual to serious threats, including possible physical harm, given the intense political rivalry and charged atmosphere within the ruling party.
Bichi explained that Buhari believed naming a successor would significantly escalate internal tensions, deepen factional divisions, and potentially trigger violence. By withholding his endorsement, the former president sought to protect lives and preserve unity within the APC, even at the cost of attracting criticism from party stakeholders and the wider public.
“In that period, political competition was extremely fierce,” Bichi recounted in the book. “As security professionals, we understood that such hostility does not always remain verbal. Sometimes, it becomes physical.”
The former DSS chief further noted that Buhari preferred to allow the party’s primary process to unfold organically, enabling aspirants to compete on equal footing. This approach, he said, helped to spread political risk across multiple candidates rather than concentrating animosity and danger on a single individual perceived as the president’s choice.
Buchi added that Buhari consciously chose to endure accusations of aloofness and neutrality rather than take actions that could destabilize the party or threaten national security. In his view, the former president saw restraint as a necessary sacrifice for the greater good.
The book’s launch drew a distinguished audience at the Presidential Villa, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gambian President Adama Barrow, serving and former governors, ministers, diplomats, traditional leaders, and members of Buhari’s family. The event underscored the continued interest in Buhari’s legacy and the enduring debate over his leadership decisions.
Overall, the publication provides fresh context to a critical moment in Nigeria’s recent political history, portraying Buhari’s silence not as weakness, but as a deliberate strategy shaped by security realities and a desire to prevent internal party implosion.
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