My father knew many Nigerians felt disappointed with his administration – Halima Buhari

Buhari

Halima Buhari, daughter of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has offered rare insight into the private life of her late father, revealing that he was fully aware of public criticism and the disappointment felt by many Nigerians over his administration.

She made the disclosure on Wednesday, December 17, during the presentation of a book authored by former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, according to the Nigerian Tribune.

Speaking before an audience that included former ministers, ex-governors, traditional rulers and political party chieftains, Halima said her father understood that many Nigerians who had placed immense hope in his leadership – particularly on security and economic recovery – felt let down by his performance in office. Reflecting on the burdens of leadership, she said Buhari often grappled with the difficult realities of governing a complex country like Nigeria, where expectations frequently clash with practical limitations.

“Behind every soundbite, there was a human being; sometimes tired, sometimes determined, sometimes frustrated, always painfully aware that his decisions impacted millions of lives,” she said.

“That human being was our father. I saw a side of him that never appeared on television and was rarely captured in print.”

Halima described Buhari as a reserved man who listened more than he spoke and carried the weight of national concerns deeply.

“I saw the man who would sit quietly, listening more than he spoke. The man who worried about the security of ordinary people. The man who agonised over the gap between what was promised and what was possible,” she said.

“For the public, he was President Buhari. For us at home, he was simply ‘Baba.’”

She noted that leadership, especially in Nigeria, is rarely straightforward and often involves difficult compromises.