Forgive President Buhari, urges Dr Abubakar Jimoh, calling on Nigerians to blame the inner circle and not the late president’s original intentions

‘Forgive President Buhari’ was the call from Dr Abubakar Jimoh, former Director of Public Affairs at NAFDAC, following the death of the former Nigerian leader.

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In a statement after his burial, Jimoh urged Nigerians to redirect their anger from Buhari to the inner circle that he claims sabotaged his good intentions.

Now an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the University of Abuja, Jimoh described Buhari as a man of honour whose agenda was hijacked.

“President Buhari had the best of plans to rescue Nigeria from economic doldrums, insecurity, and mass poverty,” he stated.

“But the same people he trusted with power, the cabals and certain cabinet members, betrayed that trust.”

Jimoh insisted that the late president’s kitchen cabinet distorted the original vision.

He explained that the administration was weighed down by selfish actors who undermined reforms.

“They hijacked the reins of power and superimposed their selfish interests over his transformative agenda,” he said.

To back his claims, Jimoh recounted a private 2018 conversation with Dr Aisha Buhari.

“She gave me a deep insight into the good intentions of her husband and was dismayed by the poor performance of some top government functionaries and even some governors,” he recalled.

Jimoh acknowledged that the president must bear responsibility for his government, but stressed that context is crucial.

“He was a pious, honest, patriotic and nationalistic statesman,” he said. “History will be kinder to him if people recognise how bad eggs within the system frustrated his goals.”

He also warned President Bola Tinubu to be vigilant with his own advisers.

“This is a lesson for President Tinubu. He must ensure his kitchen cabinet does not derail the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Jimoh added.

Ending his statement with a call for compassion, Jimoh appealed to the public’s sense of justice and faith.

“Both the Quran and Bible urge us to forgive. Given the Buhari family’s plea and the late president’s intentions, it is only humane that we forgive and move forward,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari died earlier this month after battling a prolonged illness.

His funeral drew dignitaries and sparked a renewed debate over his legacy.

Also read: Buhari’s Burial Attracts Dignitaries as Nigeria Bids Farewell to Former Leader

For Jimoh and others who believe in the late leader’s vision, the focus now is not only on remembrance but also on understanding.