DAURA — In a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of political power, Yusuf Buhari, the son of Nigeria’s late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has shared a sobering account of how his vast social circle evaporated the moment his father left the seat of power.
Speaking months after the burial of the former President, Yusuf revealed that the thousands of daily calls that once defined his life—ranging from high-profile politicians to distant acquaintances—have virtually vanished, leaving behind a silence that he describes as a profound lesson in the transactional nature of Nigerian politics.
From 2,000 Calls to Silence
Yusuf recalled that the “frenzy” began immediately after Goodluck Jonathan made his historic concession call in 2015. At the time, the young Buhari became a primary gatekeeper for thousands seeking a connection to the new first family.
“My phone practically never stopped ringing. I was getting close to 2,000 calls every day, starting as early as 4 a.m.,” Yusuf revealed. The callers, he noted, included old schoolmates, distant relatives, and former house staff, many of whom had “strange and vague reasons” for reaching out.
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However, the “loyalty” of these callers proved to be tied strictly to the office, not the person. Yusuf noted a sharp decline in communication as soon as his father handed over to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2023. “The calls dropped sharply to about 100 a day,” he said. “After his burial, they fell even further to barely 20 daily—mostly from my siblings. Now, the phones barely ring.”
A Parable for the ‘New Guard’
Yusuf’s reflection arrives at a time of significant political realignment in Abuja. His experience serves as a “timely parable” for those currently navigating the high-stakes power plays at Wadata Plaza or the “Villa Peace” deals currently being brokered between Nyesom Wike and Sim Fubara.
Political analysts suggest that Yusuf’s story highlights a systemic issue in Nigerian governance: the pursuit of “regime security” and personal patronage over enduring institutional relationships. This sentiment was echoed recently by former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who warned that the current administration is increasingly focused on protecting its own survival rather than the people.
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‘Very Few People Genuinely Care’
The silence on Yusuf’s phone mirrors the shifting allegiances in the North, where once-powerful fixtures of the Buhari era now find themselves isolated or under judicial scrutiny, as seen in the ongoing terrorism financing trial of former AGF Abubakar Malami.
“In the end, you realize that very few people genuinely care,” Yusuf remarked, offering a rare glimpse into the psychological toll of exiting the “corridors of power.” While the lobbyists in Washington D.C. are being paid $9 million to polish the current administration’s image, Yusuf’s testimony serves as a reminder that such influence is often a “borrowed robe” that must eventually be returned.
As of Tuesday morning, February 10, 2026, Yusuf continues to live a private life between Daura and Abuja, a man who has witnessed firsthand the difference between the “noise of the crowd” and the “loyalty of a friend” in a nation currently grappling with ₦1,000 petrol and a vanishing middle class.