Security Fears Drove Buhari’s Silence on Successor, Ex-DSS Chief Yusuf Bichi Reveals

Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to publicly back a successor ahead of the 2022 presidential election was a calculated security decision, according to fresh disclosures by a former head of Nigeria’s secret police.

The insight comes from Yusuf Bichi, former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), who spoke in a newly released book examining Buhari’s leadership philosophy, security instincts and handling of power within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The book, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, was unveiled in Abuja and offers rare behind-the-scenes accounts of key decisions taken during Buhari’s time in office.

Written by Dr Charles Omole, Director-General of the Institute for Police and Security Policy Research (IPSPR), the 600-page publication compiles reflections from senior officials who worked closely with the former president.

Bichi addressed the long-running controversy surrounding Buhari’s refusal to anoint a preferred candidate during the APC presidential primary, saying the move was intentional and driven by intelligence assessments.

According to him, security reports at the time warned that openly endorsing a candidate could expose that individual to serious danger in a fiercely contested political environment.

Buhari’s silence, Bichi said, was often mistaken for indifference but was in fact a strategy aimed at protecting lives and preventing internal fractures within the ruling party.

He explained that publicly naming a successor would likely have intensified rivalries, deepened hostility among factions and placed the endorsed aspirant at risk.

“In those months, knives were out; politically and, as security professionals know too well, sometimes literally,” Bichi said, describing the volatile atmosphere.

The former DSS chief added that Buhari chose to absorb public criticism rather than risk party instability or the loss of human lives.

Allowing the primary process to unfold without presidential influence, Bichi noted, helped spread political pressure across aspirants and avoided concentrating hostility on a single individual.

The book launch drew a high-profile audience at the Presidential Villa, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gambian President Adama Barrow, governors, ministers, diplomats, traditional rulers and members of Buhari’s family.