Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has called on Nigerians to allow the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari to rest in peace.

El-Rufai made the appeal while responding to narratives in Buhari’s recently released biography, “Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari,” written by Charles Omole.

The book was unveiled recently at the State House, Abuja, with several top government officials and notable personalities in attendance, including President Bola Tinubu and former First Lady Aisha Buhari.

El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State during Buhari’s presidency from 2015 to 2023, said the book has “stirred deep emotions and renewed divisions among those who once formed his inner circle.”

In a statement shared on his X account, he noted that the viewpoints of several people close to Buhari were largely overlooked in the biography.

He stated: “Having followed the headlines and images from the event, I felt compelled to make a simple but urgent appeal: let us allow President Buhari to rest in peace.

“A careful look at those who dominated the book launch revealed the same factional lines that existed during Buhari’s lifetime. One camp was prominently represented, while others, equally close to the late president, were excluded.”

El-Rufai also remarked that many of the claims attributed to Buhari appeared one-sided.

“I have not yet read Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, and it is possible that some reports lack context. However, many of the so-called revelations attributed to the late president appear one-sided and unfair, especially as he is no longer alive to respond. Explaining the thoughts and motivations of a complex leader through selective anecdotes risks distorting, rather than preserving, his legacy,” he said.

He further expressed concern about what he described as “faked” tributes by some long-standing critics of Buhari who now hold government positions.

El-Rufai recalled that those who once criticised Buhari’s administration for Nigeria’s challenges “now appear eager to revise history.” He added that it was unsettling to witness people eulogising Buhari after his death despite lacking his trust or respect during his lifetime.