Former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has revealed that the deceased leader was initially reluctant to congratulate Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara following their controversial emergence as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2015.
Adesina made the revelation in a tribute to his late boss, recounting his early days as the president’s media adviser and the challenges of balancing loyalty with professional judgment.
According to the former presidential spokesman, the incident occurred nine days after he assumed office, when both Saraki and Dogara had secured leadership of the National Assembly contrary to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s preference.
“I told the President we needed to congratulate them. He baulked. But I stood my ground. He said no, I also said no. I said it would portray him as undemocratic,” Adesina wrote in his tribute.
The former media adviser explained that he urged Buhari to congratulate the duo, but the president refused. However, Adesina warned that such a move could be considered undemocratic, leading to a standoff between the two.
Despite the initial resistance, Adesina revealed that Buhari eventually agreed and allowed the congratulatory statement to be issued after reasoning with his media adviser. The former president only made a slight addition to the final text.
“At the end of the day, he reasoned with me and the statement was written, with him just adding one word,” Adesina recalled.
The former presidential spokesman used the incident to highlight Buhari’s integrity and willingness to listen to opposing viewpoints. “Keeping to his word is part of the famed integrity. Argue with me. If you have a better point, I’ll agree with you,” he said.
The 2015 National Assembly leadership elections had been a source of tension within the APC, as Saraki and Dogara emerged victorious against the party’s preferred candidates. The controversial elections marked an early test of the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government under Buhari’s administration.
Adesina’s revelation provides insight into the internal dynamics of the Buhari presidency and demonstrates how critical decisions were made during the early days of the administration, particularly regarding politically sensitive matters that could impact the government’s democratic credentials.
