Former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Farouk Aliyu, has expressed sadness over how some Nigerians have taken to social media to criticise the late former President Muhammadu Buhari following his death on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
Speaking during an interview on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Monday, Aliyu, a close associate of the late president, condemned the online attacks, urging Nigerians to show respect for the dead.
“It is quite unfortunate that Nigerians are heaping insults on former President Buhari after he has died. Each of us must have done something wrong to someone in one way or the other. We all are humans and have our different shortcomings. Buhari is no exception,” he said.
Aliyu acknowledged that Buhari was not a perfect leader but argued that his contributions to the country’s development should not be overlooked or dismissed because of his perceived flaws.
“Though Buhari had his shortcomings, he should be respected and praised for his own contribution to our national growth and development,” he added.
His comments come amid a wave of mixed reactions from the public since the former president’s passing. While some Nigerians have paid glowing tributes to Buhari, others have criticised his leadership style and decisions during his time in office, particularly between 2015 and 2023.
