Fresh revelations by the daughters of late former President Muhammadu Buhari have cast new light on the inner workings of his administration, suggesting both bureaucratic manipulation at the highest level and the former president’s awareness of public dissatisfaction.
In From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, a new biography by Charles Omole, Fatima Buhari, a forensic auditor and daughter of the late president, alleged that several official documents carried forged signatures of her father during his tenure.
She claimed to have personally reviewed suspicious documents and presented them to Buhari, who was reportedly concerned about the integrity of official papers.
Fatima told the author that signature forgery was not unique to her father’s administration, explaining that the size and complexity of Nigeria’s bureaucracy made such lapses almost inevitable.
However, she noted that some alterations appeared intentional, describing instances where presidential directives and speeches were manipulated after Buhari’s approval.
One notable incident involved a speech Buhari delivered during a trip to the United States. Fatima recounted that her father hesitated while reading, realising the text had been altered, and abandoned the script to speak extemporaneously.
She said this reflected a broader pattern where presidential communications were sometimes “diluted in transit” to suit certain interests.
The biography also alleges that Buhari suspected he was being monitored within the Presidential Villa. According to Fatima, the president sometimes avoided verbal discussions on sensitive matters, opting instead for written notes with family members.
Security chiefs reportedly confirmed discovering unusual objects during routine sweeps of the president’s office and residence, heightening concerns about surveillance.
Meanwhile, at a public book presentation in Abuja on Wednesday, Halima Buhari, another daughter of the late president, disclosed that Buhari was fully aware that many Nigerians were disappointed with his administration.
Speaking at the launch of Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration by former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, Halima said her father understood the high expectations Nigerians had, particularly regarding security and economic management.
“Behind every soundbite, there was a human being; sometimes tired, sometimes determined, sometimes frustrated, always painfully aware that his decisions impacted millions of lives,” she said.
She noted that while the public saw Buhari as a stoic president, at home he was simply “Baba,” deeply concerned about citizens’ welfare and the consequences of his decisions.
Halima emphasised that the book provided an insider’s perspective on governance and public communication under intense scrutiny, offering insight into the challenges of leading a complex nation while facing criticism and high expectations.
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