In a gesture that carried more weight than the headlines could capture, governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) journeyed to Kaduna to visit former President Muhammadu Buhari—an act that blended duty, nostalgia, and perhaps, a quiet search for direction.
The meeting, led by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, was held behind closed doors at Buhari’s serene Kaduna residence. But beyond the formalities, it was a moment of reconnection with a man many in the party still regard as its moral compass—an elder statesman whose silence in recent times has felt louder than speeches.
Governor Uzodimma described the visit as one of “homage and unity”, calling Buhari the “father of the APC”. His words were calm, but they floated against the backdrop of growing turbulence within the party—waves stirred by defections, discontent, and quiet dissent.
The timing couldn’t have been more symbolic. Former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, once seen as one of Buhari’s staunchest allies, had recently announced his departure from the APC, reportedly with Buhari’s blessing. Rumours continue to swell about former cabinet members quietly plotting an exodus to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and in Buhari’s own Katsina State, APC members have begun to drift.
Yet, Uzodimma stood before reporters with assurance, framing the visit as a reaffirmation of loyalty and strength. “We came and saw him in good health. We fraternised with him… He is well pleased with our party and all of us, his children,” he said.
For many Nigerians watching from the sidelines, it wasn’t just a routine courtesy call. It was a reminder that in politics, relationships are fragile, and even towering structures like the APC need their foundations reinforced—especially by the very hands that helped lay them.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna added his voice, expressing gratitude to Buhari for his ongoing support of President Bola Tinubu and the party machinery. But underneath the official soundbites was a more human story—one of leaders seeking reassurance from a man who has become more myth than presence since leaving office.
As Nigeria continues to wrestle with political realignments and economic uncertainty, the visit was a quiet appeal to stability, a bid to reconnect with the party’s past in hopes of securing its future. Whether it succeeded in rekindling unity or merely masked deeper fractures is something time—and the ballot box—will eventually reveal.
