Veteran politician and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) chieftain Buba Galadima has said that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s greatest legacy is his unwavering humility and sincere love for the poor.
Galadima said this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, where he described Buhari as a “patriot who would lay down his life for this country.”
The NNPP Chieftain, when asked what he believed the late former president’s greatest legacy was, said, “The greatest legacy that the president left for Nigeria is his attitude, his humility, and his love for the poor. You cannot take away that one from him. He was a man of law and order who believed that everything should be done according to the rules. But, of course, he has some weaknesses in implementing that, because you just can’t leave human beings because you set rules for them without supervising them to do what you expect them to do. So they took advantage of some of these weaknesses.”
Galadima also praised Buhari for rejecting foreign-imposed military bases and resisting economic pressures from international bodies like the IMF and World Bank, saying only a man of great resolve and nationalist spirit could withstand such global influence.
He said, “Of course, you could have seen that he stood against the Western-imposed policies of the IMF and the World Bank, and immediately that was removed. You have seen how Nigeria catapulted into misery when the prices of commodities skyrocketed, the exchange rate had gone out of the roof, and we are still grappling over that. And these are issues that only a strong person, a strong-willed person, can stand against some external influences.
“And, you know, there were pressure on demand to allow foreign military bases in this country, which silently under the table the general had stood against. Now some of these things are creeping themselves into the Nigerian system. So his legacy is perseverance, patience, and humility.”
Despite the political rift that developed between them after Buhari was elected president, Galadima said he had long forgiven the late leader and mourns his passing with a heavy heart.
“We politically disagreed, but that does not mean that we had no respect for each other. Of course, me and him had not met in the last 10 years one-on-one, but that does not mean that I didn’t cherish our past relationship, which was for a stretch of 15 years, because I was the operational head of his political machine.
“Nigerians know, the world knows that some of us have stood for him at that time, and even in death, because if God wills that something will happen for some of us who are Muslims, we cannot question the wisdom of God. So I feel really distressed to learn or to hear about General Buhari’s death, because there are certain things, whether you like General Buhari or you don’t, you must give it to him.”
Responding to the question of why he spoke so highly of the late president despite not being in contact with him for 10 years and being a vocal opposition to his rule of Nigeria, Galadima said, “Irrespective of what one feels, he meant well for this country. He was a patriot who would lay down his life for this country.”
He went on to say, “In my own politics, I believe that that man who criticises me is more of my friend than those that praise me, because in the criticism, it will enable me to look at things differently, either to reaffirm faith in what I am doing or even discover that I had been wrong. So, I don’t take the criticisms I made on his government or some of his policies as a personal hatred or a dislike for him. That is my take and I will continue to look at that.
“I’m writing a book, and I’ve gone through some chapters. Some of them are very critical of his policies or of his stand on certain issues, but not on his person.”
Galadima concluded that Buhari tried his best within his limits and should be remembered for his principled lifestyle, honesty, and enduring faith in Nigeria’s unity.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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