Bashir Ahmad, former media aide to late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, says his late principal never missed any Armed Forces Remembrance Day during his time either as military Head of State or President of Nigeria.
Ahmad said this in a post on his official X handle on Thursday. He was responding to a statement allegedly attributed to Arise TV anchor, Reuben Abati.
The alleged statement claimed that Buhari missed the National Armed Forces Remembrance Day event in 2010.
Ahmad stated that what makes the record even more noteworthy was that the late President maintained the tradition of always attending the event despite significant health challenges at some times during his presidency.
He added that there was even a particular occasion when Buhari’s medical doctors advised him to skip the ceremony due to the physical strain involved, particularly the long periods of standing required during the wreath-laying and parade segments.
Ahmad reiterated that Buhari, nevertheless, declined to stay away, choosing to go ahead to be physically present in honor of Nigeria’s fallen heroes and in solidarity with the armed forces.
“First, Muhammadu Buhari was not the President of Nigeria in 2010. He served as Military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and, much later, as a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023. Therefore, for Dr. Abati to attribute any presidential action or inaction in 2010 to him is factually incorrect.
“Throughout his entire tenure as an elected president from 2015 to 2023, President Buhari did not miss any National Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony.
“So, It is important, in the interest of historical accuracy, to state clearly that the claim that President Buhari missed the 2010 Armed Forces Remembrance Day is incorrect,” he wrote.