A nine-year-old boy named Muhammadu Buhari captivated dignitaries and guests at the launch of “According to the President,” a new book by veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Garba Shehu, held Wednesday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The young Buhari, named after Nigeria’s immediate past president, stunned the high-profile audience with a poetic and patriotic performance that earned him a standing ovation.
In attendance were former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.
“I am the Buhari in us, not just the man but the meaning,” he declared confidently, setting the tone for a moving delivery that drew admiration from across the room.
Describing the former president in vivid metaphors, the boy said: “He walked like a whisper through a marketplace of noise, unshaken by applause, unbent by insult… The Buhari in us rises early, eats humbly, and acts when both heart and head agree. He wore power like plain clothes, no embroidery, no excess, only weight.”
The audience, visibly moved, applauded his words, many surprised by the depth and maturity he expressed.
“Discipline to him isn’t old-fashioned—it is the spine of a strong nation,” he continued, adding that patriotism “is not a chance, it is not the noise, it is a sacrifice.”
“For me, patriotism means I will not feast where my people starve. I won’t wave a flag I will not defend,” he added.
The Kogi-born prodigy urged Nigerians to rise “not in rage, but in reason—not in noise, but in nationhood.”
“I am Muhammadu Buhari, not of Daura but of discipline. Not of tribe but of truth. Not of self but of service,” he concluded, to resounding applause.
Rather than exiting the stage, the young performer made his way to the VIP section, greeting guests. Former Head of State Gowon and Emir Bayero rose to shake his hand, while Atiku Abubakar called him for a photo and George Akume embraced him warmly.
His father, Abdullahi Haruna, beamed with pride and later wrote on Facebook: “For my son, Muhammadu Buhari, it was a beautiful outing as he shone in the awesome grace of God.”
The young Buhari’s moving words and poise left an indelible impression, making him the unexpected star of the day.