Veteran Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem, has weighed in on the reactions trailing the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, urging leaders to live empathetically if they desire compassion in death.
The “Jaga Jaga” crooner made his remarks in a post shared via Instagram on Monday evening, in response to the public’s mixed response to Buhari’s death. The former president reportedly died at a UK clinic on Sunday afternoon, following an alleged battle with leukaemia.
While political allies continue to issue glowing tributes, many Nigerians have taken to social media to blame Buhari for what they describe as economic hardship, insecurity, and institutional decay during his eight-year tenure.
Amid the controversy, former Senator Shehu Sani called for restraint, stating:
“A living man is still on trial and cannot judge the dead. Let the sleeping soul rest.”
Abdulkareem, however, offered a direct message to Nigeria’s ruling class, writing:
“If you want sympathy in death, then you must show empathy when alive. Your legacies after life are consequences of your deeds. Innalilahi wa innalilahi rajuhun.”
Abdulkareem, known for his outspoken activism through music, has long criticised Nigerian leadership for failing the masses, most notably through his politically charged hit “Nigeria Jaga Jaga.”
His latest remarks add to the ongoing national conversation about leadership, legacy, and accountability in life and death.
