The leader of civil society and an Islamic scholar, Usman Bugaje, said that President Bola Tinubu supported the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari. This contradicts Tinubu’s public criticism of Buhari’s administration while it was in power.
In a video that was uploaded on Sunday, July 19, 2026, to the official SYMFONI YouTube channel, Bugaje expressed his perspective on the political decisions and accountability that have taken place throughout the most recent administrations in Nigeria. The film was about leadership and governance.
As part of his dedication to democratic engagement and responsible national discourse on governance issues affecting ordinary Nigerians across the country constantly, he publicly criticised policies he thought were damaging.
“When he was in the APC, you should have seen how he backed the Buhari administration,” he said during the interview. No way would I do that. I was opposed to Buhari’s administration. You are aware that the security agencies at all levels summoned me multiple times after I came out to expose the evils perpetrated by Buhari’s administration.
According to Bugaje, those events mirror the personal fallout he encountered after speaking out against the government. He mentioned that security agents constantly called him during that time, which he framed as part of his public life at the time.
Accountability and open discourse are crucial components of democratic government, he said, and they help build public trust in national institutions over time. Instead of stifling dissent, political leaders should embrace constructive criticism.
In his final words, Bugaje urged residents to speak out on national concerns, even if it means facing penalties. He said that citizens should keep pushing for accountability, legitimate government, and democratic principles through responsible public engagement and nonviolent civic involvement.
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