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| Muhammadu Buhari - Former President of Nigeria |
Muhammadu Buhari steered Nigeria through a defining chapter from 2015 to 2023. As the first opposition candidate to unseat an incumbent president at the ballot box, his tenure was eagerly watched both at home and abroad. He arrived in power on a platform of discipline and anti-corruption, promising to stabilise the economy, crush insurgents, and restore public trust.
Early Life and Rise to Power
Born on 17 December 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari joined the Nigerian Army in 1962. He rose through the ranks, serving in the Civil War and later holding key appointments:
- Military Governor of North-Eastern State (1975–76)
- Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources (1976–78)
- Head of State after the 1983 coup (1983–85), launching the “War Against Indiscipline”
After two decades away from the spotlight, he returned as a civilian politician, contesting elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011, before finally winning the presidency in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress.
Civilian Presidency (2015–2023)
1. Anti-Corruption Crusade
Central to Buhari’s appeal was his image as a man of integrity. His government:
- Established the Treasury Single Account to pool federal revenues
- Launched high-profile investigations and prosecutions of officials accused of graft
- Rolled out asset-recovery schemes for stolen public funds
These moves rekindled hopes that state coffers would no longer line private pockets.
2. Security and the Fight Against Insurgency
On taking office, Buhari vowed to defeat Boko Haram and other militants. His administration:
- Reorganised the military command structure and increased troop deployments in the north-east
- Introduced programmes to rehabilitate defectors and ease community tensions
- Faced new waves of banditry, herder–farmer clashes and separatist agitations
While Boko Haram’s control of major towns receded, insecurity remained a persistent challenge in many regions.
3. Economic Reforms and Setbacks
Confronted by slumping oil prices, Buhari sought to diversify revenue through:
- A floating exchange-rate policy, ending years of naira over-valuation
- Reforms of taxes and customs processes to boost non-oil receipts
- Initiatives like the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme for farmers
Despite these efforts, Nigeria experienced two recessions (2016 and 2020), rising inflation and a jump in poverty levels, underscoring the difficulty of recovering from external shocks and structural bottlenecks.
4. Social Programmes and Infrastructure
Buhari’s government rolled out visible projects aimed at lifting living standards:
- The Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund fast-tracked roads, rail lines and power projects
- Social Investment Programmes such as N-Power, conditional cash transfers and school feeding schemes reached millions of beneficiaries
- Digital identity and e-registration drives laid the groundwork for more efficient service delivery
These initiatives left a legacy of new highways, standard-gauge rail corridors and social safety nets.
Challenges and Criticisms
No presidency is without its critics. Buhari faced reproach for:
- Perceived selectivity in anti-corruption prosecutions
- Heavy-handed responses to protests, most notably the #EndSARS demonstrations in 2020
- Restrictions on press freedom and the temporary suspension of social media platforms
- Long medical absences in London that fuelled uncertainty about government continuity
Such episodes painted a complex image—one of reformist intent sometimes undermined by authoritarian instincts.
Death
On Sunday, 13 July 2025, Muhammadu Buhari died in London at about 4:30 pm following a prolonged illness. He was 82 years old. President Bola Tinubu announced his passing and ordered flags to fly at half-staff. Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila departed Abuja to accompany his body home.
Legacy and Lasting Impressions
Muhammadu Buhari will be remembered for:
- Breaking Nigeria’s “incumbent advantage” by winning free and fair elections in 2015 and again in 2019
- Elevating anti-corruption to the centre of national discourse
- Prioritising infrastructure and social programmes that outlasted his administration
- Straddling military discipline and civilian governance in a deeply diverse federation
His tenure redefined expectations of executive accountability, even as it exposed the enormity of Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
Buhari’s eight years in office charted a course between hope and hardship. He restored faith in democratic turnover, sharpened the tools of accountability and left behind major infrastructure achievements. Yet persistent insecurity, economic pain and questions about civil liberties remind us that national renewal is never instantaneous. His legacy offers lessons—on the promise of bold reforms and the perils of overcentralisation—that future leaders will study as Nigeria writes its next chapters.
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