LAGOS, Nigeria — Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has revealed that he intended to publicly criticise the late former President Muhammadu Buhari after his death earlier this month but was dissuaded by his wife.
Speaking on Politics Today, a current affairs programme aired on Channels Television on Friday, the outspoken former governor remarked, “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.”
Fayose, known for his combative political style and longstanding criticism of the Buhari administration, argued that Buhari’s presidency failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
“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,” he said.
Reflecting on Buhari’s time in office from 2015 to 2023, Fayose added, “When President Buhari was in government, we all know what this country was. So, nobody should come and tell me that Tinubu is not doing well.”
Drawing a comparison between Buhari and his successor, President Bola Tinubu, Fayose praised Tinubu for his accessibility and approach to governance.
“He (Tinubu) is accessible. Was the former president accessible?” he asked.
While acknowledging Tinubu’s imperfections, Fayose defended the president against growing criticism.
“He is not a perfect man but we are not where we were,” he said, arguing that the challenges facing Nigeria require time and patience.
“Nigeria is a sick country; it will take heaven to pull it out at once,” he said.
“What miracle can anybody do in two years? The situation is critical, wide and deep. Tinubu inherited a very bad economy.”
Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in early July, was Nigeria’s military ruler from 1984 to 1985 and later served two consecutive terms as a democratically elected president between 2015 and 2023.
His legacy remains the subject of divided opinions across the country.