A new book has revealed that powerful aides around former President Muhammadu Buhari issued fake presidential directives to top security chiefs ahead of the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, allegedly to force the emergence of then–Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate.
The revelation is contained in From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, a biography authored by Dr Charles Omole and launched at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
According to the book, some influential figures close to Buhari approached the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) with what they claimed was a presidential order to deploy security forces to install Lawan as the APC flagbearer.
Former IGP Alkali Baba, quoted in the book, disclosed that the request immediately raised red flags. He said he refused to comply and, alongside the DSS and NIA chiefs, sought an urgent meeting with Buhari to verify the directive.
During the meeting, the President reportedly made it clear that he had issued no such order and had not endorsed any aspirant. Buhari, according to the account, laughed off claims of backing Lawan and reiterated his long-held position that party members and Nigerians should freely choose their leaders without interference from security agencies.
The book notes that those who attempted to “choreograph the charade” were waiting outside, only to be told by the IGP that the President had no preferred candidate and that there would be no manipulation from the Villa.
Omole wrote that the episode illustrated how some aides exploited Buhari’s trust and proximity to power to misrepresent his position, without his knowledge.
The book also sheds light on other tense moments within the Buhari administration. It revealed that former First Lady Aisha Buhari played a key role in the eventual removal of former DSS Director-General Lawal Daura, which occurred while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was acting president.
According to the account, Buhari refused to reverse Osinbajo’s decision upon his return, insisting that doing so would undermine institutional order and disrespect the authority he had delegated to his deputy.
Additionally, the book disclosed that a family dispute within the Presidential Villa once escalated into gunfire when a police officer attached to the First Lady fired shots. The officer was arrested, while Buhari reportedly ordered disciplinary action against relatives found to have contributed to the chaos, demonstrating, the author noted, that family ties did not excuse misconduct.
The book launch was attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gambian President Adama Barrow, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Nana Shettima, governors, traditional rulers, former First Lady Aisha Buhari, members of the Buhari family, and several former aides.