Jonathan to Present Buhari’s Biography as Tinubu, Issoufou, Others Attend Unveiling

By Blessing Elo Oghene

Former President Goodluck Jonathan will serve as the chief presenter at the public unveiling of Muhammadu Buhari: The Authorised Biography in Abuja on Thursday, November 19, 2026, with President Bola Tinubu expected to attend as the guest of honour.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee and former Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Suleiman Adamu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press conference in Abuja.

Adamu also announced that former Niger Republic President, Mahamadou Issoufou, would chair the occasion.

The three-volume biography features forewords by Issoufou, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Adamu explained that the presentation was intended to go beyond a political gathering and attract participation from different sectors of Nigerian society.

He said the organisers wanted the event to reflect Buhari’s place in the country’s history beyond his political affiliations.

“We are deliberately seeking to make the occasion broader than a gathering of political associates. Muhammadu Buhari was a partisan political actor during important periods of his life, but his biography belongs to the historical record of Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the event was expected to attract family members, associates, former officials, political leaders, military personnel, academics, diplomats, private sector representatives, civil society organisations, media practitioners and members of the general public.

The biography was authorised by Buhari during his lifetime and developed with his extensive personal participation through interviews and other research engagements.

It also draws on several years of documentary research and interviews with individuals who knew, worked with, opposed or advised the late president.

The first volume, titled Buhari: The Phenomenon, examines his background, military career, years as military Head of State and political journey through opposition politics to his victory in the 2015 presidential election.

The second volume, Buhari: The Presidency, focuses on his eight-year administration between 2015 and 2023.

The third volume, Buhari: The Reckoning, assesses his record in key areas, including the economy, security, infrastructure, foreign affairs, anti-corruption, institutional reforms and social policy.

Adamu stressed the importance of ensuring that the publication remained accessible beyond the unveiling ceremony, particularly to researchers, students and future generations.

He called on universities, libraries, research institutions, military and security establishments, public agencies, diplomatic missions and other institutions responsible for preserving national history to acquire copies of the volumes.

“We invite Nigerians to approach these volumes with curiosity rather than with predetermined conclusions,” he said.