Buba Galadima revealed on Arise Television how northern political figures convinced Muhammadu Buhari to enter partisan politics during the early 2000s. The New Nigerian Peoples Party leader described a calculated recruitment effort triggered by escalating tensions between ethnic groups. Galadima explained that the Oduduwa Peoples Congress had mobilized hundreds of vehicles to target what they termed Fulani establishments in Ilorin. The northern coalition perceived this as an existential threat requiring immediate political intervention. President Obasanjo and Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu failed to address the growing crisis adequately.
Thirty-four northern leaders convened in Kaduna to devise a response strategy against the OPC activities. Galadima proposed recruiting Buhari as their political champion despite the former military leader's documented disdain for civilian politicians. The group recognized that democratic processes offered the most viable path to counter the perceived ethnic aggression. Buhari initially resisted their overtures but eventually agreed to participate in electoral politics. The recruitment strategy achieved immediate results as Obasanjo's administration moved to restrain OPC operations once Buhari emerged as a political force.
Thirty-four northern leaders convened in Kaduna to devise a response strategy against the OPC activities. Galadima proposed recruiting Buhari as their political champion despite the former military leader's documented disdain for civilian politicians. The group recognized that democratic processes offered the most viable path to counter the perceived ethnic aggression. Buhari initially resisted their overtures but eventually agreed to participate in electoral politics. The recruitment strategy achieved immediate results as Obasanjo's administration moved to restrain OPC operations once Buhari emerged as a political force.
