In a stunning revelation, Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, disclosed that Buhari intentionally withheld his WAEC result during the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections. This revelation, featured in Adesina’s book, ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015 – 2023)’, sheds light on Buhari’s deliberate tactic to let critics “please themselves.”
Buhari’s decision, as detailed in the book’s chapter 5, was accompanied by a resolute statement: “I always had [the certificate], but refused to release it, so that those venting spleen on it could please themselves.” Furthermore, Buhari emphasized the impossibility of attending military colleges without sitting for the WASC examinations in 1961, underscoring the significance of his credentials.
The book also unveils Buhari’s uncompromising stance on political matters. Notably, he resisted calls to dismiss the embattled governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, amidst speculations about Emefiele’s presidential ambitions for the 2023 general election. Additionally, Buhari expressed a preference for extraditing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, to face trial in Nigeria rather than resorting to extrajudicial measures.
Amidst these revelations, Buhari’s personal reflections on his education journey are laid bare. Recounting his rigorous boarding school experience and military training, Buhari emphasized the linguistic and mathematical requirements inherent in his military education. He highlighted the significance of English as a language for general instruction and the necessity of mathematics and geography in military training, providing insight into the practical and academic dimensions of his formative years.
In its entirety, Adesina’s book offers a captivating glimpse into Buhari’s strategic choices, unwavering decisions, and deeply-held convictions, inviting readers to contemplate the layers of enigma that define one of Nigeria’s most prominent political figures.
