By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
In December 1988, former Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari was held in detention in Benin, following the 1985 coup that brought his military counterpart, Ibrahim Babangida, to power. It was during this period that Buhari’s mother, Hajia Zulaihat Adamu Hardo, passed away. Despite his fervent plea to be allowed to pay his last respects to his beloved mother—to whom he was exceptionally close—his request was denied by Babangida. According to sources, this denial left a lasting bitterness in Buhari, one that reportedly surpassed even the resentment he felt over the coup itself.
Decades later, a contrasting scenario unfolded on March 27, 2026. Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who had been held in detention for several weeks, was released abruptly following the death of his mother.
His release has sparked a flurry of reactions on social media. Some commentators argue that the timing confirms their suspicion that his detention was politically motivated rather than based on criminal grounds. Others suggest he was simply granted leave to mourn his mother.
However, skeptics have raised concerns over the fact that the release came with no apparent conditions, questioning the circumstances surrounding the decision.
