“Buhari Governed with Duty Over Drama, Conviction Over Applause”: Ex-SGF Mustapha Reflects at ‘According to the President’ Book Launch

By Emmanuel Kwada

At the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre in Abuja, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, CFR, delivered a compelling lecture titled President Muhammadu Buhari’s Contribution to National Development during the public presentation of According to the President, a book authored by Garba Shehu, former Presidential Media Adviser.

Mustapha’s address offered a detailed reflection on Buhari’s presidency, emphasizing his leadership philosophy of duty, discipline, and institutional reform over populist theatrics.

The event, attended by dignitaries, policymakers, and citizens, underscored Buhari’s legacy as a leader who prioritized systems and long-term progress over fleeting applause.

Mustapha framed Buhari’s contributions as a continuation of a lifelong commitment to public service, tracing his career from military service to key roles such as Military Governor of the North-Eastern State, Federal Commissioner for Petroleum, and Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Special Trust Fund (PTF).

These roles, Mustapha noted, shaped Buhari’s reformist instincts, evident in his establishment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the 1970s and his oversight of critical infrastructure projects like the Kaduna and Warri refineries.

As President from 2015 to 2023, Buhari’s dual role as Minister of Petroleum Resources saw landmark reforms, including the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021, which restructured Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Mustapha highlighted flagship energy projects like the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano pipeline and the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline, integral to Buhari’s “Decade of Gas” strategy, as evidence of his focus on energy-driven development.

Decade of Gas” strategy, as evidence of his focus on energy-driven development

Mustapha credited Buhari with reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape through his leadership in forming the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In 2013, as leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari supported the merger of opposition parties, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). This coalition, bolstered by his integrity and national stature, led to the historic defeat of an incumbent ruling party in 2015, a first in Nigeria’s democratic history.

“His disciplined messaging and credibility unified disparate factions,” Mustapha said, noting the pivotal roles of figures like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sherif.

Taking office in 2015 amid plummeting oil prices, a Boko Haram insurgency, and weakened public institutions, Buhari’s administration prioritized fiscal discipline and security. The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP 2017–2020) restored investor confidence, while the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) aimed to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

Mustapha emphasized the administration’s shift to evidence-led governance in its second term, with the Nine Priority Areas (2019) focusing on macroeconomic stability, infrastructure, and social inclusion.

Infrastructure emerged as a cornerstone of Buhari’s legacy. Mustapha cited transformative projects like the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, and Warri–Itakpe rail line, alongside 3,800 km of new roads and 2,499 km of Sukuk-funded highways by 2022.

Over 200 testing labs were activated, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) led surveillance efforts

The Lagos–Kano standard gauge railway, with operational segments like Lagos–Ibadan, was described as a “federal spine” for connectivity. Innovative financing through the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund and Sukuk bonds sustained these efforts.

The COVID-19 pandemic tested Buhari’s leadership, and Mustapha, who chaired the Presidential Task Force, praised the administration’s science-driven response.

Over 200 testing labs were activated, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) led surveillance efforts. Social interventions, including cash transfers to over a million households and MSME relief through CACOVID, mitigated economic fallout. “Nigeria avoided institutional breakdown,” Mustapha said, citing the response as a model for coordinated governance.

The National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) was another hallmark, with initiatives like the school feeding program for 10 million pupils, N-Power for 500,000 graduates, and Conditional Cash Transfers for 1.6 million households. These programs, Mustapha noted, built a scalable social protection system aligned with global standards.

Agriculture thrived under Buhari, with the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme supporting 4.8 million farmers and boosting rice production through over 60 integrated mills by 2022.

He governed with duty over drama, conviction over applause

The Presidential Fertiliser Initiative revived blending plants, enhancing food security and rural economies. Institutionally, Executive Orders 013 and 014 introduced performance contracting and structured presidential transitions, setting a new standard for governance continuity.

The Petroleum Industry Act, CAMA 2020, and Finance Acts streamlined fiscal policy, while the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) drove over 100 business-friendly reforms.

Buhari’s foreign policy elevated Nigeria’s global standing. Mustapha highlighted Nigeria’s successful campaign for Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s re-election as African Development Bank President and the appointments of Professor Benedict Oramah (Afreximbank), Amina J. Mohammed (UN Deputy Secretary-General), and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (WTO Director-General). Nigeria’s ratification of the AfCFTA in 2020 further solidified its role in African economic integration.

Mustapha portrayed Buhari as a leader who shunned theatrics for responsibility. Even during extended medical leaves, Buhari delegated authority to the Vice President, prioritizing constitutional order over personal control.

“He governed with duty over drama, conviction over applause,” Mustapha said, emphasizing Buhari’s focus on enduring systems. The lecture also acknowledged the continuity of Buhari’s reforms under President Tinubu, particularly in electricity federalism, local government autonomy, and tax harmonization.

Mustapha concluded by framing Buhari’s presidency as a relay in Nigeria’s developmental journey, not a final sprint. According to the President, he said, offers a window into Buhari’s measured leadership, defined by choices rooted in faith in Nigeria’s promise. The event, marked by reflections on governance and progress, reaffirmed Buhari’s legacy as a leader who prioritized systems, stability, and service.