Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has said that political leaders must demonstrate empathy towards citizens while alive if they hope to be remembered with sympathy after death.
His comment comes amid mixed reactions to the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who reportedly died on Sunday at a clinic in the United Kingdom after a battle with leukaemia.
While many of Buhari’s political associates have been paying glowing tributes, a significant section of the Nigerian public has responded with criticism, pointing to what they describe as his administration’s numerous failings.
In a message posted to Instagram on Monday evening, Abdulkareem urged those in power to reflect on the legacy they leave behind.
“If you want sympathy in death, then you must show empathy when alive,” the rapper wrote. “Your legacies after life are consequences of your deeds. Innalilahi wa innalilahi rajuhun.”
Similarly, former senator Shehu Sani appealed for calm and forgiveness in the wake of the ex-president’s passing. Sharing his thoughts via social media, Sani wrote, “A living man is still on trial and cannot judge the dead. Let the sleeping soul rest.”
The differing reactions to Buhari’s death have reignited national debates on leadership, accountability, and the long-term impact of public service in Nigeria.
