Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has shared an incident in his latest book, pointing out a moment that sheds light on the former president’s character.
In his book, ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of A Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023)’, Adesina recounts how Buhari invoked the name of ‘Jesus’ in relief when former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo survived a helicopter crash.
The incident, which occurred in February 2019, involved a helicopter carrying Osinbajo from Abuja to Kabba in Kogi state, which crash-landed.
Adesina details Buhari’s response upon learning of Osinbajo’s miraculous escape from the crash. The former president reportedly congratulated Osinbajo, remarking, “Jesus was not far away, he saved you”.
Adesina wrote in his book, “Bigot? I hear.
“Our first Christmas in government. December 2015. I wanted to spend the season in Lagos. And I asked him for permission.
“By all means, he answered. I know the Vice President, yourself, and some others are church people. Please go. Spend Christmas and New Year with your families.
“When you now come back, me too I will go for a few days. And he laughed.
“Bigot? They never want to hear of Christmas. Since 2015, he would give all Christians working with him time off every Easter and Christmas. I like that kind of bigotry.
“When the Foursquare Gospel Church turned 60 years in Nigeria. I told the President, and he gladly agreed to meet with the leadership. He did. Bigot? Please tell me another story.
“The Vice President survived an helicopter crash in 2019. The President publicly rejoiced with him, and then at the next Federal Executive Council meeting, he congratulated the VP again.
“Jocularly, he said: ‘I can imagine that when the chopper crashed with a bang, VP as a pastor must have shouted, Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! And fortunately, Jesus was not far away, so He saved him’.
“We all laughed. But one instructive lesson. Bigots don’t like Jesus. They never want to hear His name, or attribute anything miraculous to Him.
“Buhari, a bigot? I beg, comot for road, make I pass. It is said that as a military commander, he gave opportunity for Muslim soldiers to observe the jumat on Fridays, and Christian soldiers were allowed to go to church on Sundays.
“A bigot would allow Muslims and pretend that Christians didn’t exist.”
