Nigerian writer Solomon Buchi has said that people should not be told how to react to the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The former leader passed away on Sunday, July 13, and his death has caused different reactions across the country.

Solomon Buchi explained that those who suffered during Buhari’s presidency have every right to express how they feel. He said some people may feel sad, but others may feel relief or even anger—and all of these emotions are valid.

He pointed out that Nigerians went through a lot under Buhari’s rule, and it would be unfair to expect everyone to mourn him in the same way. According to Buchi, forcing people to hide their pain or pretend to be sad would not be right.

He ended by saying that just like people are free to mourn, others should also be allowed to express their true feelings, whether they are positive or not. Everyone has the right to grieve or react in their own way, especially if they were deeply affected by the former president’s actions.

In a post shared on X, Buchi wrote;

‘’I know we all want to get preachy, but you cannot ask people who were negatively impacted by Buhari’s presidency not to rejoice over his death. Real lives were lost, real people suffered and real families endured extreme suffering. Buhari’s life isn’t more important than all the lives wasted as a result of his clueless government. You can’t force legacy—how you live determines how people feel when you pass away. It’s not wickedness; it’s consequence.”