Buba Galadima, a former close associate of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has declared that he has forgiven the ex-leader for all past transgressions against him.
Galadima, who was once a staunch ally of the former president and a key figure in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), played a significant role in the former president’s 2015 electoral victory. As the former National Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Galadima was one of the major signatories to the merger that birthed the APC.
However, their relationship later soured, with Galadima becoming a fierce critic of the former president’s leadership.
In previous interviews, he did not hold back in his criticism, referring to the former president and his political associates in harsh terms.
In one such interview, Galadima stated, “both the APC and the opposition figures turning Buhari’s home into a Mecca [are] useless people who can’t differentiate between their left and right,” adding that “the former President is of no use.”
He went on to declare, “Buhari is not relevant in Nigerian politics and should go rest and wait for his death.”
Galadima, who claimed he was the fourth person to sign the registration form that led to the creation of the APC, accused Buhari of long-term deception.
According to him, “Buhari was the greatest fraud to have happened to Nigeria,” and added that “his former ally managed to conceal his true intentions for 15 years.”
Following the news of Buhari’s death on Sunday in London while receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, Galadima spoke in Hausa and offered forgiveness: “…I forgive Buhari for everything he has done to me in life…”
The former President will be laid to rest on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State. His remains are expected to arrive in Nigeria aboard a flight led by a delegation headed by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
