In a rare and deeply personal reflection, Yusuf Buhari, son of Nigeria’s late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has opened up about the stark transformation in his life since his father left office, describing a reality defined not by power, but by its absence.
Speaking about the transition from the presidential villa to private life, Yusuf revealed the dramatic shift in how he is perceived—and contacted—by those around him.
“After Goodluck Jonathan made that call to my dad to congratulate him on his victory as Nigeria’s next President, I used to receive up to 2,000 calls a day from different people,” he recalled.
He described how calls would begin as early as 4 a.m., flooding in from a wide network: old classmates, distant acquaintances, extended family, former domestic staff, and even strangers with “bogus, untraceable explanations.”
“My assistant would simply come up with polite excuses to end those conversations quickly,” he added, highlighting the overwhelming and often superficial nature of the attention.
That relentless stream of communication, he said, began to ebb almost immediately after his father handed over power to President Bola Tinubu in 2023, dropping to about 100 calls a day.
The most profound silence followed the death and burial of former President Buhari. “After my dad was buried, they reduced even further to around 20 daily — usually just from siblings and business associates,” Yusuf shared.
His poignant conclusion captures a sentiment familiar to many who have experienced a sudden shift in status: “The phones no longer ring. Nobody truly cares…”
The reflection offers a candid glimpse into the isolating aftermath of political influence—where relationships built on proximity to power often dissolve once that power fades. It underscores a quiet truth about Nigerian political and social circles, where access and connection are currencies that can devalue overnight.
Yusuf’s account moves beyond politics, touching on universal themes of belonging, authenticity, and the human need for connection that endures beyond titles and positions. His words paint a picture not of bitterness, but of a sobering realization about the nature of the world he once inhabited at its center.
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