Former Aide to late President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, has clarified that the deceased President did not miss any Armed Forces Remembrance Day during his tenure of office.
Ahmad, who was the Special Assistant to decedent President Buhari, made the clarification on Thursday, in response to a statement attributed to Dr. Reuben Abati, during a recent live broadcast on Arise TV, claiming that Buhari missed the National Armed Forces Remembrance Day event in 2010.
He explained Muhammadu Buhari was not the President of Nigeria in 2010. Noting that 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 was factually incorrect.
In a statement posted on X handle, the former Aide submitted that throughout his entire tenure as an elected president from 2015 to 2023, President Buhari did not miss any National Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony. Adding that what makes this record even more noteworthy was that the late President maintained this tradition despite significant health challenges at some times during his presidency.
“There was even a particular occasion when his 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. Nevertheless, he 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.
“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 said.
