Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President of Nigeria, has offered a sobering reflection on how quickly public attention fades once political power is gone.
Speaking candidly about the dramatic shift in his family’s reality after his father left office, Yusuf recalled the overwhelming wave of attention that followed Muhammadu Buhari’s election as president.
“After former President Goodluck Jonathan called my dad to congratulate him on his victory, my phone practically stopped resting,” Yusuf said. “I used to receive up to 2,000 calls every single day.”
According to him, the calls began as early as 4 a.m. and came from all directions — old schoolmates, distant relatives, casual acquaintances, and even former domestic staff who had, at one point or another, been associated with the Buhari household.
“There were also people who couldn’t clearly explain why they were calling,” he added. “My assistant usually had to find polite ways to cut those conversations short.”
However, Yusuf said the attention did not last.
“The moment my dad left office and handed over to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the calls dropped drastically — to about 100 a day,” he revealed.
The decline became even more pronounced after the former president’s death.
“After my dad was buried, the calls reduced further to around 20 daily,” Yusuf said. “Most of them now come only from siblings and a few business associates.”
Reflecting on the experience, Yusuf summed it up in stark terms: “The phones no longer ring. Nobody truly cares.”
His account has since resonated widely, serving as a reminder of the fleeting nature of influence and the loneliness that often follows life outside the corridors of power.