Buhari wanted Northern successor, his political calculation was naive, absurd — Sule Lamido

Former Jigawa State governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has declared that President Bola Tinubu has become an “emperor” in Nigeria’s political landscape, making him a formidable force to challenge in the 2027 elections.

The PDP further added that ex-President Muhammadu Buhari never wanted Tinubu to succeed him as Nigeria’s president, favouring a former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan for the presidency. Lamido further claimed that Buhari did not trust his vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, as his successor.

Lamido, however, described Buhari’s political strategy as “naive and absurd,” asserting that the former president desired a northern successor after his eight-year tenure.

The ex-governor revealed this in an interview with Nigerian Tribune on Saturday, saying: “Prior to the convention, [Tinubu] was in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he boasted that it was his turn to rule Nigeria. And Buhari, very naive, was watching.

“He never liked Tinubu. There was somebody he wanted. He didn’t even trust his own vice president, Professor Osinbajo; he wanted Ahmed Lawan, but his calculation was absurd.”

Lamido, who noted the challenges of altering certain political dynamics in Nigeria today, criticised Buhari’s wish for another northerner to succeed him after his eight years in office. He suggested that Buhari lacked the courage to push his preferred candidate at the party’s convention, where Tinubu emerged as the victor despite Buhari’s lack of support.

“Prior to the convention, he was in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he boasted that it was his turn to rule Nigeria. And Buhari, very naive, was watching. He never liked Tinubu. There was somebody he wanted. He didn’t even trust his own vice president, Professor (Yemi) Osinbajo; he wanted Ahmed Lawan, but his calculation was absurd. You have done eight years for the North and you wanted another Northerner for another eight years?! No. Maybe later but there are some dynamics which you can’t alter, not in Nigeria of today,” Lamido said in the Nigerian Tribune interview.

“The president of Nigeria, after being in office for eight years, lacked the courage to push through his anointed choice. He was there at the convention and Tinubu that he never liked, he never believed in emerged. Tinubu knows that his victory wasn’t from Buhari, therefore, he owes him nothing. He wasn’t the choice of Afenifere, Obasanjo never liked him, but he became president. All the other groups, including the governors, were there but he won. He was determined to demolish all obstacles and he crushed them.”

Lamido also expressed his concerns about the difficulties facing the PDP in its efforts to reclaim power from Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He described Tinubu as a self-made leader who has overcome numerous political obstacles to reach the presidency.

“Tinubu is an emperor,” Lamido stated. “With his hold on the country and the economy, it will be difficult to dislodge him in 2027.”

Reflecting on the political landscape, Lamido argued that the crisis within the PDP mirrors broader problems across Nigeria’s institutions.

“The PDP is just a reflection of the attitude of Nigerians,” he asserted. “Ask yourself: Are the Nigerian people willing and ready to salvage the country? It is not about PDP or APC; it is about our national character, our discipline, and our values.”

On the controversy surrounding Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lamido dismissed suggestions that Wike had been planted by Tinubu to weaken the PDP.

“Wike is our creation, we made him,” Lamido stressed. “He is there today because the environment allows him to manipulate and exploit it. But destroying the PDP also means destroying Tinubu. Ultimately, both of them are going to lose because the arrangement is unholy; it is immoral; it is un-Nigerian.”

Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Lamido acknowledged the challenges but maintained that the PDP would continue working to identify allies who share a common concern for Nigeria’s future.

“We are working hard, but it is a huge task,” he admitted. “It is going to be difficult with Tinubu, with his audacity to say this is where I stand, even against Nigeria’s interest.”

Despite his critical assessment of the political climate, Lamido remained hopeful for change, drawing a historical analogy to suggest that even the most powerful empires eventually collapse.

“Tinubu today is like Pharaoh; no matter how daring you are, it ultimately won’t end well,” he cautioned.
“Look at how Tinubu crushed all obstacles to become president. But even Pharaoh’s empire collapsed, and so will Tinubu’s. No matter how much he believes he is untouchable, history shows that power is always temporary.”

Lamido also criticised the approach of some PDP members who he feels have undermined the party’s unity. “People like Ortom saying, ‘our leader, Wike, has said we will vote Tinubu in 2027’ — it is shocking,” he said. “Imagine someone in the PDP openly declaring loyalty to Tinubu. It shows that some people in the PDP are not on the same frequency with us.”

He also remarked on Tinubu’s political manoeuvres and strength, stating, “Don’t underestimate a man like Tinubu. He paid the governors at the convention. He doesn’t care; he has demolished every established political arrangement and institution to get to where he is today. Now, he is not going to be easy to deal with. With Tinubu, Nigeria is a fiefdom, and he is the emperor.”