Former SGF Challenges Tinubu’s Vote Impact in Buhari’s 2015 Victory
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has contested the widely held perception that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the decisive factor in Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 presidential victory.
Speaking at the public presentation of According to the President, a book authored by former presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu, Mustapha said Tinubu’s electoral influence in 2015 did not exceed three million votes. The event took place in Abuja on Tuesday.
Delivering a lecture titled “President Muhammadu Buhari’s Contribution to National Development,” Mustapha emphasized that Buhari’s personal credibility, not just political alliances, was the cornerstone of the 2015 electoral breakthrough that unseated the then-incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The coalition that birthed the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013—featuring General Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and others—was historic. But it was Buhari’s national reputation for integrity and anti-corruption that galvanized the electorate,” Mustapha said.
He traced Buhari’s legacy to his years as military governor, his role in establishing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and his leadership of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under General Sani Abacha.
According to Mustapha, Buhari’s civilian presidency from 2015 to 2023 was marked by long-term policy continuity and institutional strengthening. He cited major initiatives including the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP), the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), and the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).
He also listed landmark infrastructure projects such as the Second Niger Bridge and the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, along with strides in military modernization, agriculture, and public sector reforms.
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Tinubu Pays Tribute to Buhari’s Legacy
In a goodwill message delivered on his behalf by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended Buhari’s statesmanship and acknowledged his enduring contributions to Nigeria’s development.
> “President Buhari demonstrated leadership grounded in integrity, prudence, and patriotism. His efforts in tackling insecurity, revitalizing infrastructure, and reforming the public service have laid a solid foundation,” Tinubu said.
He assured that his administration remains committed to consolidating and expanding the reform agenda initiated during the Buhari years
The event attracted prominent political figures, government officials, and stakeholders across Nigeria’s socio-political spectrum. According to the President is a reflective volume chronicling the eight-year presidency of Muhammadu Buhari through insider accounts and policy narratives.
