Fatima Buhari, daughter of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has alleged that Tunde Sabiu, the president’s former private secretary, wielded excessive influence within the administration, with ministers reportedly afraid of him. She made the remarks in From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, a biography written by Charles Omole, describing what she said she personally observed during her father’s presidency.
According to Fatima, Sabiu controlled access to the president and the flow of official documents, creating a perception that progress on government matters depended on his approval. She said ministers behaved as though they could do nothing without his involvement, adding that there was widespread fear that offending him could delay or halt initiatives. “Tunde… had a hold on most of the ministers,” she said.
Fatima described Sabiu as “overbearing” and recalled rare moments when President Buhari resisted his influence. “In front of me, there’s a time that Baba shouted at Tunde,” she said. She also raised concerns about alleged forged signatures during the administration, noting she reviewed documents showing fake signatures, though she said forgery was not unique to her father’s government.