Former President Muhammadu Buhari has relocated from his Daura, Katsina home to Kaduna, a neighbouring state that have been described my many political buffs as the political capital of Nigeria’s North.
Buhari, who departed Katsina on Thursday according to one of his formeraide Bashir Ahmad, was accompanied on the journey by some political leaders from the northern part of the country, including Vice President Kassim Shettima, Governors Babagana Zulum, Uba Sani of Borno and Kaduna states amongts others, thereby raising posers among political analysts on whether the relocation is significant for the 2027 race, which appeared to have started in earnest, considering the recent re-alignments of political forces in the country.
Announcing Buhari’s relocation on Thursday, Ahmad said the former Nigerian leader received a warmth welcome on his arrival in Kaduna by the people of the state.
“Today, former President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to his Kaduna residence after spending two years in Daura, Katsina State, since leaving office in May 2023. After completing his tenure, he opted for a quiet life in his hometown and largely stayed out of active political discussions, focusing on private engagements.”
Ahmad added, “President Buhari was accompanied by Vice President @KashimSM Shettima and high-profile dignitaries, including the Governor of Borno, @ProfZulum, and his counterpart, the Governor of Kaduna, @UbaSaniUS, current and former Deputy Governors of Katsina State, a former Inspector General of Police, former ministers, and several of his personal aides.”
The development is coming amidst the ongoing re-alignment of political forces in the country, particularly from the northern part of the country, against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s return to office in 2027.
Some key northern political leaders are believed to be united against Tinubu’s, and have been speaking openly against his government in a manner that suggest that he no longer have their support unlike during the 2023 Presidential election when he received massive support from the region.
The immediate past Governor of Kaduna state has openly declared that Tinubu will not be re-elected.
Even though Buhari has not openly criticised the incumbent, sources insist that he may not be entirely happy that Tinubu is the commander-in- chief. The former leader, the magazine recalls did not support Tinubu’s ascension to power. His candidate for the Presidency was former Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
After leaving office on May 29, 2023 Buhari had moved into a quiet life in Kaduna where he has been living for close to two year, in spite of his decision to stay out of politics after he left power, his home has become a Mecca of sort as political leaders across the country- from the ruling All progressives Congress, APC Peoples Democratic Party, PDP- have continued to pay him homage.
Analyst insist that the development may not be unconnected with the respect the former president still commands across the country, including suggestions in the political arena in the country that his opinion is being sought by those aspiring to political offices, particularly in the next political dispensation in 2027.
Prominent individuals who have visited the former president lately included Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Ahmad Lawal Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former Governor Nasir El Rufai, amongst others.
“From the look of things, the 2027 elections is gradually gathering momentum, from the looks of things and with the manner some politicians have been carrying themselves. Therefore, it’s safe to say the former president is also preparing for the next election. don’t’ forget that he’s still well respected among the political leaders in the country who would like to hear what he will say concerning the next election, particularly the presidential election,” an analyst said on Friday.
According to the source who said his name should not be mentioned because “all of these still remains in the realm of speculations,” Buhari, reading from what has been happening recently concerning the Presidency “ will have a say” on who becomes the next Commander-in-chief.”
He may be right. This is because some of those who had visited him recently are either members of the ruling APC, who appear not happy with the governing style of President Tinubu, and PDP leaders trying to solicit the support of the former leader to snatch power in the next presidential election.
In June 2024, former Vice President Abubakar, who is among the 2027 presidential hopefuls visited Buhari in Daura, a move that ruffled feathers in the ruling party, even though the host and his visitor did not say whether the meeting was because of the next election.
Also in December 2024, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi led some traditional rulers to the home of the former president, the details of their discussion, however, still remains sketchy more than three months after.
In January 2023, few months to the end of his eight years maximum term President Buhari said he planned to “retire in peace” from the nation’s politics.
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