Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has refuted claims that President Bola Tinubu was solely responsible for making Muhammadu Buhari Nigeria’s president in 2015.
Mustapha made the clarification during the unveiling of “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience,” a book written by former presidential spokesman Garba Shehu.
Mustapha argued that Buhari already had a strong voter base of 12.2 million from previous elections, while the merger of legacy parties contributed an additional 3.2 million votes, bringing the total to 15.4 million—the figure that secured victory in 2015.
President Tinubu, represented by the current SGF, Senator George Akume, praised Buhari for laying the groundwork for his administration’s ongoing reforms. He described nation-building as a relay race, where each government builds on the achievements of its predecessor.
Former Head of State Yakubu Gowon commended Buhari’s leadership, while ex-Chief of Staff Prof. Ibrahim Gambari called for a reassessment of how presidents and governors are selected across Nigeria’s 36 states.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former presidential media aide Femi Adesina. Shehu’s book aims to document his experiences for future generations.
