Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s role in the funeral of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as politically motivated rather than genuine, as reported by Punch on Sunday, 20 July, 2025.
Dalung pointed out that Buhari’s former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, was visibly sidelined during the burial.
Despite his long service under Buhari, Osinbajo had no significant role, and was left out of key events, while others took the spotlight.
In contrast, President Tinubu took charge of the entire burial process.
From sending Vice President Kashim Shettima to London to accompany Buhari’s body, to receiving the corpse in Daura, Tinubu dominated every stage of the funeral.
He later led a special Federal Executive Council meeting where tributes were paid to Buhari.
The late president’s son, Yusuf Buhari, was also present.
Tinubu went further by renaming the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University.
Dalung believes these actions go beyond protocol and reflect an attempt to reshape public perception.
He noted that the same administration that frequently blamed Buhari for Nigeria’s economic problems is now trying to position itself as a loyal defender of his legacy.
The former minister said that such a shift in tone raises suspicion.
He suggested that the sudden public display of respect may be linked to plans to inherit Buhari’s northern political base ahead of the 2027 election.
“The President might just be doing a normal thing giving a befitting burial to a former president. But on the other hand, those accusing him of trying to exploit Buhari’s death to redeem his political image are not wrong because there was a strained relationship between the former President and his successor. We’ve heard comments like ‘we inherited a bad economy,’ and so on, which show a cold relationship. For such a man to be doing what he did during Buhari’s burial, it is indeed suspicious,” Dalung said.
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