Buhari Says He Left Office With No New Assets After Presidency

Buhari Breaks Silence: I Left Office Without Gaining Any Assets

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has publicly declared that he left office in 2023 with the same assets he had before he became Nigeria’s leader in 2015. According to him, after eight years of being president, he did not enrich himself, build new homes, or stash away any money in foreign or local bank accounts.

This bold statement came during a visit by governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to his private home in Kaduna. These governors, under the umbrella of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), met with the former president to celebrate the recent Eid-el-Fitr festival and to thank him for his service to Nigeria and his contributions to the APC.

Mr Buhari said the President Bola Tinubu-led government had renovated his Kaduna home after he left office. The renovation was done out of respect, not as a luxury project. While the house still looks the same on the outside, he explained that the inside was improved to make it more comfortable.

“I didn’t gain any new houses, no new accounts in banks, and no new plots of land,” Buhari said. “I left with what I came with.”

His media aide, Garba Shehu, issued a statement to confirm the details of the visit and what the former president said. Buhari reminded the APC governors that leadership should never be about enriching oneself. It should be about serving people and making sure that citizens benefit from those in power.

He used himself as an example, stating clearly that from 2015 to 2023, when he served two terms as Nigeria’s president, he did not build personal wealth. He urged the governors to lead with the people in mind, stressing that balancing the challenge and opportunity that comes with power is the true test of leadership.

In his words, “Governance must be for the people, not for personal gain. That’s the only way Nigeria can move forward.”

Mr Buhari also expressed satisfaction with the way APC governors are managing their various states. He said they are showing signs of progress and dedication. He added that although some of the governors were new faces to him, he had worked closely with several of them and trusted their commitment to the country.

“I thank you for visiting. I have worked with many of you, and I am happy that the good work continues,” he said. He also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for making sure his residence was in good shape, even after he had left office.

Now retired, Buhari spends most of his time in Kaduna. Although he hails from Daura in Katsina State, he seems to prefer the quiet of his Kaduna home, where he now receives visitors and reflects on his time in office.

When Buhari came into power in 2015, many people believed he was going to change Nigeria’s political culture. This belief was based on his long-standing reputation as a disciplined military ruler in the 1980s and his image as a man who lived a simple life.

After winning the election, he made his asset declaration public—a move that was seen as a major step toward transparency. According to a statement from the presidency back then, Buhari said he had ₦30 million in his account, five houses, two plots of undeveloped land, several farms, and livestock, including 270 cattle, 35 sheep, five horses, birds, and fruit trees.

In 2019, when he began his second term, the presidency again released another update. This time, the statement said not much had changed. “There are no new houses, no new bank accounts at home or abroad, and no new shares acquired,” the report said.

The statement helped to maintain Buhari’s image as a man who stayed away from corruption and personal enrichment during his time in office. It gave him a different image from most Nigerian politicians who often leave office far wealthier than when they came in.

Buhari told the APC governors to focus on the citizens, not themselves. He said the people expect to see change in their lives, not just in campaign promises. He also told them that being in government means carrying the burden of the people and not living large while the masses suffer.

“You must not forget why you were elected,” he told the governors. “The people want results. They want better roads, schools, hospitals, and jobs.”

He said leadership is a great opportunity, but it can quickly turn into a burden if misused. He encouraged them to always think of Nigeria first in every decision they make.

Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, led the delegation. He said the visit was not just to greet the former president during Eid, but also to show appreciation and respect.

He praised Buhari’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and described him as the backbone of APC. “You remain a pillar in our party,” Uzodinma said. “Many of us still draw strength from your leadership.”

Uzodinma reminded everyone that Buhari remains the only opposition candidate in Nigeria’s history who defeated a sitting president. “That victory reshaped our political history,” he said.

He added that Buhari’s government gave life to many of APC’s key principles, such as fighting corruption, reviving the economy, and focusing on national security. He praised programmes introduced under Buhari’s leadership, like the Conditional Cash Transfer, School Feeding Programme, Anchor Borrowers Scheme, and the large-scale road and rail projects.

“You showed us that we must produce what we eat and eat what we produce,” he said.

Uzodinma also acknowledged Buhari’s respect for democracy, especially the peaceful handover of power to another APC president in 2023. “You governed with calm resolve and handed over with honour,” he noted.

The Imo governor said the APC is now being transformed and renewed under Tinubu’s leadership, which he described as bold and reform-driven. He also thanked Buhari for publicly supporting Tinubu on his birthday, calling it a clear message of unity.

Uzodinma asked Buhari to continue offering guidance and support to the APC as it continues to lead the country. “You may have left office, but your voice still matters,” he said.

He concluded by urging the former president to keep sharing his wisdom, saying that the APC and the nation still need his guidance.

Buhari’s decision to declare that he left office without personal gain is a big statement. In a country where public office is often seen as a way to get rich, his words challenge that thinking. Whether or not people believe him, it sets a tone that leadership should be about service, not self-interest.

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He may no longer be in power, but his legacy is now being shaped not just by what he did in office, but by how he left it. He has thrown a challenge to all current and future leaders: Lead with honour, and leave with dignity.

In the end, Nigeria’s political future depends on the values its leaders choose to live by. If Buhari’s claims are true—and if others follow in his footsteps—it could signal a real change in how power is used in Africa’s biggest democracy.