Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Muhammadu Buhari, recently recounted the emotional moment when he was invited by Buhari to join his administration.
This revelation came during a book reading session for Adesina’s book, ‘Working With Buhari: Reflections of A Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015 – 2023)’.
The event, held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was organized by Purplebloom Publishers, Ibadan Tech Expo, Safari Books, and Wells Radio Ibadan.
The session was moderated by Michael Olatunbosun, a broadcast journalist and book reviewer at Splash FM Ibadan.
He engaged Adesina in an interactive dialogue about his book and his experiences working with Buhari.
During the reading of select passages from the 488-page book, which features a foreword by former President Buhari, Adesina emphasized that the book focuses on “the Buhari software, not the hardware.”
It delves into Buhari’s personality, motivations, intentions for Nigeria, and key achievements during his presidency.
Reflecting on his initial reaction to Buhari’s offer, Adesina disclosed that he was emotional and apprehensive about leaving his position as Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun newspaper.
He admitted, “What would I meet there? What if I did not like it? I did not want to leave my job, but it was too late to backtrack. More so, I like the president, and would love to serve him.”
He revealed that despite his concerns about the unknown future, his admiration for Buhari and his desire to contribute to Nigeria’s development motivated him to accept the role, even though the salary was significantly lower than his previous job.
Adesina also reflected on his long-standing admiration for Buhari, noting that he had been promoting Buhari’s image since 2003 as an honest and transparent leader.
“Serving Buhari was a personal sacrifice and a contribution to the country’s progress,” he said.
He expressed hope that his book would provide an accurate portrayal of Buhari, countering any misconceptions about the former president.
Olatunbosun praised Adesina’s work, having read and reviewed the book in its entirety.
He recommended it as essential reading for anyone interested in understanding Buhari and his presidency.
Founder and Creative Director of Purplebloom Publishers, Adejoke Oyekan, expressed her gratitude to Adesina for participating in the event.
She highlighted the importance of leadership skills and the role of books in fostering knowledge and inspiration.
“As we delve into Mr Adesina’s insights, I want to remind you that leadership is not just a title — it is a set of skills and a mindset. Cultivating good leadership skills starts with a commitment to learning, integrity, and resilience,” Oyekan stated.
Also, President of the Purplebloom Book Club, John Oguntileye, encouraged attendees to engage with books and join the book club to enhance their personal development.
