In the wake of the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians have begun revisiting some of his most poignant moments, including a heartfelt appeal he made in May 2023, shortly before handing over power.
At the time, addressing the nation as his tenure came to an end, Buhari openly acknowledged that his leadership may have left some citizens hurt and urged for forgiveness.
“Whoever thought that there has been some form of injustice on him we are all humans, there is no doubt I hurt some people, and I wish they would pardon me and those who think that I have hurt them, please pardon me”, Buhari had said, in what is now seen by many as one of the most sincere reflections of his presidency.
The quote, originally made during a farewell broadcast, resurfaced across social media platforms following the announcement of his death in London, as shared by his former spokesperson, Garba Shehu.
Buhari, who ruled Nigeria as a military head of state in the 1980s and returned as a democratically elected president in 2015, often drew mixed reactions for his policies on the economy, national security, and anti-corruption.
While his administration was praised for some infrastructure strides and the fight against graft, critics accused him of failing to unite the country and suppressing dissent.
Now, with tributes pouring in and citizens revisiting the arc of his political journey, that 2023 plea for forgiveness has taken on new emotional significance.
