In an interview with Nigerian Tribune, Mr. Femi Adesina, the eight-year Special Advisor on Media and Publicity to former President Muhammadu Buhari, was asked how he managed to deal with Buhari, a strict general who hardly receives advice from civilians.
He was asked how frequently Buhari voluntarily asked for or accepted his advice and if there had ever been disagreements between the two of them.
In response, Adesina recounted how Buhari told him when he went for duty the day after his appointment was made public, “I am a general; I may argue, but please argue with me. If you have a better point, I would turn around to agree with you.”
Adesina said that he and Buhari had a number of disagreements over the years during which he stated his case.
Quoting him, “The first was when Bukola Saraki emerged as Senate President and Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, contrary to the dictates of the party.”
“President Buhari said he would not congratulate them. I said he needed to; he said he wouldn’t. I stuck to my guns, and he eventually congratulated them, with just a slight amendment to the statement I had drafted.
According to Adesina, there were several occasions when they disagreed on some matters but eventually came to an understanding via discussion and argument. He went on to say that Buhari was not a tyrant at all.
Regarding the facets of Buhari’s demeanor or character that he found objectionable, he said, “Where I felt President Buhari was too conciliatory was in the area of his virulent critics.”
“They would use all sorts of unfair words against him in the media, then come to the Presidential Villa, and the man will still give them all the courtesies.”
“They should get kicked in the ribs, but trust President Buhari; he had no malicious bone in his body.”….Seē _ Morē