Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has stirred controversy with his recent comments about his financial situation post-presidency.
Speaking during a gathering of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in Katsina State ahead of the February 15 local council elections, Buhari revealed that his family relies on income from renting out one of his two houses in Kaduna for their sustenance.
“I did not corruptly enrich myself as president,” Buhari stated, asserting that he left office after eight years without illegally acquired wealth.
“After my eight years as a civil president, I have only three houses: one in Daura and two in Kaduna. I have given one out for renting where I get money for feeding.”
The former president, who described Nigeria as a “difficult country to govern,” added that many Nigerians fail to grasp the complexities of administration.
He also remarked, “I look much better and healthier now than when I was the president of the country. Anybody that sees me now acknowledges that I look better than before.”
However, his statements have sparked backlash from human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account, Odinkalu criticized Buhari for what he described as unnecessary dishonesty about his wealth.
“Someone should please tell Muhammadu Buhari that he is no longer running for the office of Messiah, therefore, no longer has any need to keep lying about his earthly acquisitions,” Odinkalu wrote.
The remarks have reignited conversations about Buhari's tenure, governance style, and the challenges of leading a nation as complex as Nigeria.
Critics and supporters alike are debating his claims of modesty and his legacy as a leader who once campaigned on a platform of anti-corruption and accountability.
While Buhari insists he governed with integrity and simplicity, his detractors argue that his tenure left behind unresolved issues, making his assertions of financial modesty and leadership challenges a point of national contention.
[Sahara Reporters]