Following the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari in July, Ayodele Fayose, ex-Governor of Ekiti, recounted a personal episode in which his wife persuaded him to withhold public criticisms. Speaking during a national television appearance, Fayose said, “The people in Nigeria only praise the dead. When President Buhari died, I wanted to come out and abuse him (but) my wife called me not to say so.”
The former president, who governed Nigeria from 2015 to 2023, died on July 13 in a London hospital and was buried in Katsina State shortly afterward.
Known for his outspoken critiques of Buhari’s time in office, Fayose made clear he holds firm views. “Would you say Buhari performed? I’m not among those praising the dead. Don’t honour me when I die. When I die, I’m gone. When President Buhari was in government, we all know what this country was.”
He further contrasted Buhari’s leadership style with that of President Bola Tinubu. “He (Tinubu) is accessible. Was the former president accessible? A lot of things were happening in those days but do you still find them in the system? He is not a perfect man but we are not where we were,” stated Fayose.
Reflecting on the nation’s struggles, Fayose remarked, “Nigeria is a sick country; it will take heaven to pull it out at once. What miracle can anybody do in two years? The situation is critical, wide and deep. Tinubu inherited a very bad economy.”