A former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has stated that no contemporary political figure can truly lay claim to the political legacy of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday after an interdenominational church service held in Buhari’s honour, Okechukwu said the former president’s enduring political relevance especially his famed 12 million vote-bank was a result of decades of consistency, integrity, and selfless public service.
“With the greatest respect to those trying to inherit Buhari’s political base, his shoes are simply too big to fill. None of them has his rare combination of integrity, discipline, or a clean record in public office,” he said.
Okechukwu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasized that Buhari’s appeal particularly in Northern Nigeria was deeply rooted in his reputation for honesty and a values-based approach to leadership.
“People admired Buhari as ‘Mai Gaskiya’ the Honest Man. He built that image over 50 years without ever engaging in shady deals or vote-buying tactics,” he added.
Okechukwu warned against attempts by some politicians to exploit Buhari’s legacy and Northern appeal for selfish political ambitions. He said such moves threaten the principle of rotational presidency, which has helped maintain political balance in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
He cited the North’s political maturity and inclusiveness, referencing their support for Chief MKO Abiola in 1993 and President Bola Tinubu in 2023, as evidence of a broader national outlook.
“Those trying to hijack Buhari’s political structure especially remnants of the defunct CPC lack both his moral compass and the grassroots ideology of leaders like Malam Aminu Kano,” Okechukwu stressed.
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