Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has accused Nigerian politicians of “moral bankruptcy” for turning against former President Muhammadu Buhari after years of benefiting from his administration. Speaking at the Raymond Dokpesi Diamond Lecture in Abuja, the governor described sycophancy as “a corrosive disease” that erodes integrity in public office.
Sule, who was conferred a Fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), said: “Many who hailed Buhari as the best leader now call him the worst. That’s hypocrisy — the death of loyalty and the rise of convenience in Nigerian politics.”
The Politics of Memory and Betrayal
His remarks reignited national debate about Buhari’s legacy and how political elites quickly realign post-power. Sule’s speech drew attention not only for its moral tone but for subtly defending Buhari’s record amid growing intra-party blame within the APC.
He credited Buhari’s administration for infrastructural growth, anti-corruption initiatives, and agricultural reform, noting that history would judge the ex-president “kindly but not perfectly.”
Integrity as Political Capital
Sule’s candour contrasts sharply with the transactional politics that dominate Nigeria’s ruling elite. His stance resonates with a moral rebuke: that leadership must transcend the pursuit of power and profit. The governor’s comments also appeared to reinforce his loyalty to former Nasarawa Governor Tanko Al-Makura, a rare example of consistency in Nigeria’s shifting alliances.
Narrative, Legacy, and Loyalty
For observers, the speech positions Sule as a rising national voice for principled leadership, a potential political recalibrator ahead of 2027. His public defence of Buhari — at a media event honouring the late Raymond Dokpesi — also reflects his media-savvy strategy: align morality with visibility.
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