Abuja, Nigeria – President Bo Tinubu did not contribute more than three million votes to the victory of former President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 general elections, according to a former senior government official.
The assertion came during a lecture delivered by Boss Mustapha, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (2015-2023), at the public presentation of the book ‘According to the President’ by Garba Shehu on July 9, 2025. Mustapha’s lecture, titled ‘President Muhammadu Buhari’s Contribution to National Development,’ focused on Buhari’s leadership and the policies of his presidency.
Mustapha highlighted Buhari’s role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in early 2013, noting that Buhari, as leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), “formally requested and supported the creation of a CPC merger committee.” This process brought together various political factions, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), an APGA faction, and elements of the then-ruling party.
“His endorsement and participation, along with other party leaders such as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sherif, lent credibility and direction to the merger, helping to unify disparate party factions under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” Mustapha stated. He added that this coalition-building “paved the way for the first democratic defeat of an incumbent ruling party in Nigeria’s history,” with Buhari’s “integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging” being “central to that breakthrough.”
Buhari’s Legacy and Governance Approach
The lecture also delved into former President Buhari’s contributions to national development, reflecting on his long career in public service. Mustapha noted Buhari’s foundational reforms as Military Governor, his role in establishing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources, and his oversight of the Petroleum Special Trust Fund (PTF), which directed resources towards infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Mustapha described Buhari’s presidency (2015-2023) as a period of “recalibration, characterised by policy consistency and a deliberate effort to rebuild state capacity.” Key initiatives mentioned included the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP), the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP 2017–2020), and the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), aiming to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.
Infrastructure development was central, with projects such as the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, Abuja–Kaduna–Kano highway, and the Warri–Itakpe rail line being highlighted. The lecture also touched upon military modernisation, social investment programmes, agricultural reforms, and institutional reforms through Executive Orders and legislative actions.
Tinubu Commends Buhari’s Contributions
Separately, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in an address delivered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, at the same book launch, commended former President Buhari.
“This event is not merely a celebration of a book. It is a significant national moment – an opportunity to reflect on the leadership journey my predecessor and one of Nigeria’s most consequential leaders, former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, whose time in office shaped the direction of our country in profound ways,” the President’s address stated.
President Tinubu acknowledged Buhari’s leadership, which he said “stood on the pillars of integrity, accountability, prudence as well as patriotism.” He highlighted Buhari’s “decisive push to confront insecurity, a serious commitment to infrastructure renewal, a renewed focus on self-reliance and a clear effort to sanitize the public sector.”
President Tinubu’s address also underscored the continuity of governance, stating: “Nation-building is a relay. The efforts of one administration lay the foundation for the next. In this regard, I acknowledge the efforts of my predecessor, President Buhari, and assure all Nigerians that the reform-oriented path he initiated will be consolidated and strengthened under this administration. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is inspired by the desire to build a resilient, just and inclusive Nigeria – a nation that delivers dividends of democracy to all its citizens.”
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