Do Not Speak Ill of the Dead”: Nigeria’s Culture of Eulogy and the Ghost of Buhari’s Silence

Do Not Speak Ill of the Dead”: Nigeria’s Culture of Eulogy and the Ghost of Buhari’s Silence

By Jerry Adesewo

“You don’t speak ill of the dead.”

This is more than an African proverb. It is an unwritten creed, a cultural injunction passed through generations with whispered reverence. In Nigeria, it often doubles as a moral shield, protecting the legacies of the deceased, muting criticism, and reshaping public memory.

The recent death of former President Muhammadu Buhari has activated this cultural reflex on a national scale. Tributes have poured in from every corner of the political establishment, lavish in tone, uncritical in content, and, in some cases, sharply at odds with the realities of relationships that existed while Buhari lived.

From military men who once overthrew him to politicians who distanced themselves from his presidency, the posthumous praise has been abundant, if not curious. And it begs the question: are we honouring the man, or rewriting the past to comfort the living?

The Cultural Compass Behind the Silence

The saying “Don’t speak ill of the dead” rests on two pillars: respect and restraint. Death, in Nigerian cosmology, represents transcendence—a release from the imperfections of earth. To cast stones at the dead is seen not only as bad form but as a disturbance to their spiritual rest. This is compounded by religious teachings—both Islamic and Christian—that call for forgiveness at death and judgment only by God.

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But for public figures, especially those whose actions defined a generation, does this silence serve the dead or betray history?

Muhammadu Buhari: Sainted in Death, Contested in Life

Buhari was not a typical Nigerian leader. Personally frugal and austere, he came to power on the strength of a reputation: soldier, disciplinarian, incorruptible. Yet, his presidency (2015–2023) was marked by widespread criticism, over worsening insecurity, economic decline, policy inertia, and a perceived tolerance for incompetence within his inner circle.

Despite these complexities, many of his most vocal critics now sing his praises in a solemn tone. The contrast between their words in life and death is striking.

Obasanjo: From Fiery Letters to Final Blessings

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who famously described Buhari’s government as “a failure” and urged him to abandon a second term bid in 2018, has now hailed him as a “disciplined patriot” whose “intentions were noble.”

In life, Obasanjo accused Buhari of clannishness, poor leadership, and failure to unite the country. In death, he reframed Buhari’s legacy in softer terms—more reminiscent of a fallen comrade than a political disappointment.

Atiku Abubakar: From Adversary to Admirer

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who contested against Buhari in two bruising elections (2019 and 2023), described the late president as a “steadfast nationalist” who “meant well for Nigeria.” Yet, during campaigns, Atiku regularly criticised Buhari’s economic policies and accused him of overseeing a shrinking civic space and a failing economy.

His tribute, while emotionally resonant, reads more like a script of statesmanlike diplomacy than an honest appraisal from a former rival.

Buba Galadima: A Curious Turnaround

Perhaps the most surprising tribute came from Buba Galadima, a former close ally turned fierce critic. Once one of Buhari’s loudest adversaries, accusing him of nepotism and betrayal of democratic ideals, Galadima mourned him as “a sincere man who meant well, even if he was misunderstood.”

For a man who once vowed never to support Buhari again, the sudden warmth raised eyebrows. Was this reconciliation—or merely a cultural obligation? Anyway, he did mention while he was alive that he had forgiven him, but would have nothing to do with him again. And he never did, until his death.

IBB and Gowon: The Generals Keep It General

Ibrahim Babangida, who ousted Buhari in the 1985 coup, offered a restrained but respectful tribute, focusing on Buhari’s “dedication to discipline and national service.” Babangida rarely engaged Buhari publicly in later years, maintaining a soldier’s distance. His words in death kept that tradition—vague, polite, and safe.

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on the other hand, ever the diplomatic elder, lauded Buhari as “a statesman who served with honour.” True to form, Gowon avoided controversy, speaking from a place of tradition, not tension.

Tinubu: Between Legacy and Political Realignment

Our Sitting President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, undoubtedly the architect of Buhari’s 2015 victory, had, in recent times, distanced his administration from Buhari’s. His policies, particularly the subsidy removal and currency reforms, were widely interpreted as a pivot from Buhari-era economic conservatism.

Still, in his statement, Tinubu called Buhari a “servant leader of uncommon discipline,” avoiding any hint of divergence. In power, Tinubu is recalibrating. In death, he embraced political etiquette.

Northern Elders and Emirs: Silence of Complicity?

Tributes also poured in from Northern elders, governors, and traditional rulers. Many of them had remained muted during Buhari’s presidency, especially as insecurity worsened across the North. Now, they honour him as a “son of the soil,” a “protector of Northern identity,” and a “man of integrity.”

But few have acknowledged the economic and social dislocations that worsened in the North under Buhari—banditry, school kidnappings, and mass poverty. Again, death seems to have provided a convenient filter.

In Death, a Mirror for the Living

The death of Buhari has not only reopened debates about his legacy, but it has also exposed a broader problem in Nigerian political culture: our collective discomfort with honest eulogy. If we cannot speak the truth about our leaders in life, and we cannot critique them in death, then when do we tell the full story?

To ‘not speak ill’ of the dead is noble. But to speak only praise is dangerous. The nation does not progress by false consensus. It grows through accountability—even posthumous accountability.

Southeast Tributes: Graceful, but Tense

Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate—who routinely criticized Buhari’s governance, particularly its economic failures and its handling of federal character—issued a measured and civil tribute:

“His death provides a solemn moment for the nation… he comported himself in a dignified manner as a leader.”

Obi’s tone was notably diplomatic, void of past critiques, reflecting a cultural maturity or perhaps, strategic silence.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organization of the Igbo people, struck a symbolic chord, calling Buhari’s death a “lesson to those in power.” The body, which had long accused the Buhari administration of political exclusion and injustice toward the Southeast, chose restraint over rekindling old wounds.

Conclusion: A New Ethic for National Memory

Buhari was neither a saint nor a villain. He was a man of conviction, but also a leader whose silence enabled rot. To canonize him is to flatten the truth. To dismiss him entirely is to deny his intent.

Nigeria must learn to speak honestly of its past leaders, especially when they pass. Not to vilify, but to clarify. Not to disrespect, but to learn.

In remembering Buhari, we must resist the urge to remember only what is convenient. The measure of respect is not silence, it is truth, spoken in compassion and courage.