Even as an opposition contestant, I had access to Buhari and got his advice – Peter Obi

By KEMI KASUMU

“His character was excellent and will be remembered for his good principles. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and admit his gentle soul in Al-Jannah Firdaus, Amiin,” AIG Mu’azu Idris Hadejia prayed.

As late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s mourning continues to drag with people within and globally still grieving over his death on Sunday July 13, 2025 in a London hospital, revelations still trickling in show that the former president was more than ordinary but an undisputed enigma.

Among the revelations were those that came from former Anambra State, South East Nigeria Governor Peter Obi and former Minister of Communications and Member of the nation’s highest command the Provisional Ruling Council, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd).

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections where Buhari’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was a major contester, revealed how the Daura, Katsina State-born sitting President, not only granted him audience but also, gave him a word of advice that showed him that he was not just in power for selfish but collective good of the masses if Nigeria.

He said Buhari, inside his rock of power in Abuja, told him during his campaign despite being in the opposition to take care of the poor in event that he made it to as winner of the ejection.

Obi, whose words was only confirming what The DEFENDER had long gathered, made this revelation when he paid a condolence visit to Buhari’s family in Daura on Wednesday July 16, 2025. He came third in the 2023 presidential election.

According to him, he consulted Muhammadu Buhari, who was the then the sitting President of Nigeria, to inform him of his desire to succeed him.

Speaking to the press after the condolence visit in Daura, Katsina State, Obi recalled his conversation with the former President.

“I had the opportunity of meeting him while I was campaigning. And I remember his words, ‘Please care for the poor Nigerians’. That I can still remember. And I believe he did his best within his capacity,” Obi said.

Also, for the second time since Buhari’s passing, one of his successors as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigeria Army, Jos, and former Minister of Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), in an exclusive message published by The DEFENDER on Thursday, said Buhari was a great statesman loved across regions and who commanded respect and had followership across all tribes of Nigeria.

According to General Olanrewaju, “General Muhammadu Buhari will continue to be remembered as one who gave me a presidential pardon when others turned off their eyes away. May Allah forgive his sins and rest his soul in the Al-Jannah Firdaus, Amin.

“May a good leader emerge to inherit the horde of followership,” he prayed.

In the tribute of President of The DEFENDER Advisory Board, AIG Mu’azu Idris Hadejia (Rtd), General Muhammadu Buhari is eulogised as a leader whose administration created favours across bounds without him necessarily knowing beneficiaries.

“He will be remembered as one under whose administration the fame of our media organisation boomed having been given opportunity to contribute to national security, intelligence and general development coordinated by but the Media Office of the President,” AIG Mu’azu Idris Hadejia said.

“His character was excellent and will be remembered for his good principles. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and admit his gentle soul in Al-Jannah Firdaus, Amiin,” he prayed.

The former President was buried in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State on Tuesday July 15 after passing on Sunday July 13.

The Katsina born politician served as a military Head of State and democratically elected President of Nigeria.