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Democracy @ 20: High hopes as Buhari, Govs Take Oath of Office

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Democracy @ 20: High hopes as Buhari, Govs take oath of office
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By: Jude Opara

Nigerians are expecting a better delivery of democracy dividends, as President Muhammadu Buhari and 29 state governors take oath of office on a day Nigeria is marking is 20 years of democracy.

On May 29, 1999, Nigeria returned to constitutional democracy after a tedious military administration which had seized power and disrupted democratic institutions.

Before now, the country was having an interchange between the military and the civilians in the quest to administer the country.

In 1993 the country had an election that was generally adjudged as the most peaceful before and it was presumed to have been won by philanthropist and businessman, Moshood Abiola.

But the military government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election.

The heat generated by that annulment was one of the reasons Babangida who had always shifted the goalpost of the handover date quickly inaugurated an interim government headed by Ernest Shonekan in August 1993.

Just three months after, Shonekan whose government was powerless announced his resignation after the then Army Chief, Gen. Sani Abacha allegedly forced him to do so.

During the reign of Abacha from 1993 till his death in 1998, the country was under the stranglehold of one of her most brutal juntas. The ruthless General also incarcerated Abiola.

However, it was a new turn after the maximum leader died in 1998 and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar who took over gave a promise to return the country to a democratic rule in 1999. This promise he kept.

To kick start his transition programme, Abubakar registered three political parties which were, Alliance for Democracy (AD), All Peoples Party (APP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which gave birth to democratic governance in 1999.

So, the current democratic experience which is the longest uninterrupted so far began effectively when the mantle of leadership was handed over to President Olusegun Obasanjo by Gen. Abubakar.

It is our sincere hope and desire that the military boys have returned to their barracks for good.

So, 20 years after, we want to evaluate how the journey has been so far. The PDP took the first shot and ruled the country for 16 years before they were defeated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

The government started by purging the military when President Obasanjo retired all military officers who have been exposed to political offices. This indeed terminated the career of a generation of military officers; some of them were the finest at that time.

One intractable problem that has bedeviled Nigeria from inception is corruption. The government began a fight against the monster by establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

Like every new broom, these agencies appeared to have been effective at the beginning until somehow they became the instrument of harassment and suppression of real and imaginary enemies of the government.

There was this hope of a new horizon when the country returned to constitutional democracy despite the fact that the president at that time was a retired military dictator himself. Nigerians had hoped that there will be a reversal of their dwindling economic fortunes, but 20 years down the line the standard of living has even continued in a downward slide.

The Obasanjo administration made some efforts in returning Nigeria as a global citizen with her involvement in many international treaties and conventions. His government also negotiated with the international donor agencies like the World Bank, the Paris Club as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to offset the nation’s debts.

In the area of infrastructure, there were a lot of contracts awarded for the construction of roads and other projects but they were given out at highly outrageous rates with jobs delivered not commensurate with the money paid.

For instance, the construction of the Abuja National Stadium is said to have cost the country a huge fortune which if properly managed could have delivered three of the same quality project

In the electoral system the story has not been any different. Politicians were ready to do anything to win elections. Imposition of candidates and ballot box stuffing were and are still the order of the day.

During the PDP era, impunity was taken to a rather ridiculous level to the extent that the godfathers can give the party ticket to anybody they like whether such a person won the primary election or not.

The mantra then was do whatever you could to be declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), then the judiciary will be the next bus stop. The manipulation of the judiciary was the order of the day as in most instances, cases were delivered to the highest bidder.

In 2007, Nigeria conducted yet another election and shortly after his inauguration, late former President Umaru ‘Yar Adua had accepted that the process that led to his victory was faulty and he promised to do something about it.

Certainly, he did by setting up the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reforms Committee. That Committee recommended for electoral reforms aimed at giving INEC more latitude to organize free and fair elections across the country.

However, midway into his administration, President ‘Yar Adua died and his deputy Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in.

In 2011, President Jonathan campaigned and won election defeating current President Muhammadu Buhari. Then he ran a campaign based on the fact that he was from a poor background, many people bought into his story believing he will make things easier for everybody given his background.

But his government was largely criticized because of the high rate of corruption. Many people at the corridors of power easily helped themselves from the public purse.

The issue of the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram in the North East also took a dangerous turn as bomb explosions were happening just in days even in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

All these and many more real and imaginary reasons were capitalized on by the civil society organizations and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) which was an amalgam of some political parties for the sole purpose of capturing power to run down the government.

For instance, in 2012, the government attempted to increase the pump price to N140 naira to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy, the CSOs and the opposition party took to the street to protest. They claimed that there was nothing like subsidy, describing it as a scam. The Jonathan administration buckled and returned the price to N87 naira.

So, in 2015, many analysts were not surprised when the incumbent president was defeated by his challenger. This is because a lot of people had had the notion that the country needed a change and the person of President Buhari well fitted in.

President Jonathan, who had always said his ambition never worth the blood of any Nigerian, equally surprised many especially his party members when he put a call across to Buhari to concede defeat. That singular action also saved the country a lot of stress because the tension in the country was at a fever high pitch.

Many analysts believed that the APC never believed that the former president was going to hands off so easily, so they were alleged to have prepared their supporters for a wild protest which may have turned violent.

President Buhari mounted the saddle with a lot of promise and the people in turn were also not in short supply of expectations and hope. The government during their electioneering campaign had promised a lot of things including payment of N5,000 monthly to all unemployed Nigerians, reduction of the exchange rate from a naira to a dollar, reduction of the pump price from N87 naira to about N45 naira, ending the Boko Haram madness within the first three months and many more.

But four years after, many Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of the government. Most of the promises have at best remained promises. In fact, some have been out rightly denied.

The exchange rate is now N360 to $1 dollar, the pump price instead of selling at N87 is now N145 naira.

While some of the abducted Chibok girls have been released, over a 100 others are still in captivity, just like Leah Sharibu of Dapchi school who was among the other set of school girls abducted under the watch of this present government is still in captivity after the freedom of her colleagues was negotiated.

The country has not fared better in any way including in the security situation because while we will agree that Boko haram has been pushed to Bornu state, other dare devil organizations have commenced the business of mass killings and wanton destruction of property. Today the killer herders and armed bandits are freely on the rampage, killing and abducting people with little or no hindrance.

The government seems to have lost ideas of what to do and perhaps that is why the clamour for at least the change of the service chiefs has been ignored. Today all over the country, people are living in fears and some ethnic nationalities have started threatening of defending themselves from any external aggression.

The mass killings by the herders in Benue state last year with one incident resulting to the mass burial of over 77 bodies will linger for a long time in the minds of Nigerians.

The country is today more divided unfortunately along the two dangerous lines of religion and ethnicity. This government may have inadvertently contributed to this by its actions and utterances earlier in their regime. For instance, shortly after his inauguration in 2015, President Buhari in an interview told a foreign television that he will not treat those who allegedly gave him 97% and 5% equally. While those who believe he was right rose to support him, those who differed said it was unnecessary for a sitting president to so classify his own people.

Suffice it to add that the government must be seen to be fair to all manners of Nigerians irrespective of their creed, ethnicity and orientation. The idea of treating some people with kid gloves while others are given the sucker punch will not help us. One can easily remember the seeming pat on back to the Arewa youths who audaciously gave Igbos living in the North a quit notice as well as the activities of the killer herdsmen are being justified by the body language of the government, while the secessionists Indigenous People of Biafra who are only carrying flags were quickly branded as terrorists.

Unemployment and hardship are now bedmates of most Nigerians and the ugly result is the high rate of suicide among the citizens at all levels and strata. Many people are confused and ready to take any rash action at the slightest provocation.

So as the President takes his second and final oath of office, he should begin to think of how to solve of some of these problems especially those that bother on national security and the standard of living.

The Social Investment Programme (SIP) which the administration launched before the 2019 elections has been variously described as a failure as little or no impact have been felt of the hundreds of billions of naira budgeted for that. No other personality than the First Lady, Aisha Buhari only this week cried out that the programme has failed especially in the Northern Nigeria.

The Buhari administration and the 8th National Assembly had at best functioned in a cat and mouse relationship with accusations and counter accusations of sabotage every now and then. It came to a head last year when the men of the Department of State services (DSS) sealed off the assembly, locking legislators, staff and visitors out.

Despite the fact that both the outgoing Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara were members of the APC by the time they were elected, the leadership of the party did not welcome them and hence the barrage of attacks and court cases that followed. This also forced the duo to decamp to the PDP later on.

The incident which happened when the President was away on medical trip hugely embarrassed the country as the local and international channels beamed the development live. The then Director General of the DSS, Mamman Daura was forced to resign as an aftermath of the power play that emanated from that inglorious outing.

The government should this time try to operate in harmony with the leadership of the 9th National Assembly. We also hope they succeed in getting their preferred candidates, Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila elected as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

The President has promised to change his style; we hope the change will be a positive one. To start with, immediately after the inauguration today, we expect to see the list of ministers as soon as the 9th Assembly is inaugurated in June. Nigerians will not accept the long wait of six months it took before the out gone ministers were appointed.

As a leader, the President should also devise other ways of getting information of the real situation in the country because it appears that most of the people around him only tell him things that will make him believe that all is well.

Importantly, President Buhari has said he believes Nigeria needs to practice True Federalism; it is expected that he puts flesh to the skeleton of the verbal pronouncement by initiating a bill to the National Assembly to make the necessary constitutional amendments.

I have said it severally that without True Federalism Nigeria will not likely improve on her development. This is because the unitary system we are operating at the moment is not helping us. At best what we are doing is motion without movement.

We must practically move away from the mono economy we are operating. Oil alone cannot continue to carry the country while elsewhere in Zamfara people are freely mining gold and the government looks the other way. Nigeria must allow each component unit or state to operate a level of autonomy that will help them take certain responsibilities.

Finally, the APC as the government in power must begin to drive some of the changes, they promised Nigerians in 2015, this the President is expected to champion because what has happened so far is a far cry from what was promised.

For example, the level of impunity exhibited by the APC in the last general elections must have even dwarfed whatever the PDP did on the scale of infamy. Today the ruling party has lost all elective positions in Rivers and Zamfara States including the national and state seats because they simply failed to adhere to their own guidelines.

The report of the Uwais Commission which recommended that the chairman of INEC and other board members should be appointed by the National Judicial Council (NJC) instead of the president.

Today it is the president that usually appoints the Chairman, the National Commissioners as well as the Resident Electoral Commissioners of the commission. INEC as presently constituted will most likely continue to do the bidding of politicians especially the ruling party and the appointing president.

An example is due to the ease of manipulation by any sitting government; in 2001 it did not take the then government of President Obasanjo to get the amendment of the Electoral Act ahead of the 2003 elections. Prior to this time, the presidential and national assembly elections used to come last but it was changed to be the first to be conducted.

Indeed, that change was selfish because the president and the members of the national assembly reasoned that if the state governors should win their election first, they may truncate their own election.

President Buhari can and still has the opportunity to write his name in gold by using the last four years which starts today to conscientiously move Nigeria forward.

He should look for competent and quality men and women to man the ministries and not necessarily party men who may add little or nothing to the growth of the nation.

OPINION

Buhari: Lessons in Leadership and Patriotism

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By Ismail Abdulaziz

On July 13, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, former President of Nigeria, passed away after the mid-day prayers at a London Clinic at the ripe age of 82.Many testimonies about his life and times indicate a man of civility, discipline and patriotism not adding his avowed principle of living a Spartan life and commitment to eradication of corruption.

President Bola Tinubu, paid a glowing tribute.
‘’Buhari was to the very core, a patriot, a soldier, a statesman; his legacy of service and sacrifice endures.“He served Nigeria with unwavering dedication, first as a military leader from January 1984 to August 1985, and later as a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023; duty, honour, and a deep commitment to the unity and progress of our nation defined his life.
“He stood firm through the most turbulent times, leading with quiet strength, profound integrity, and an unshakable belief in Nigeria’s potential.“He championed discipline in public service, confronted corruption head-on, and placed the country above personal interest at every turn,’’ the president said.Similarly, the revered Islamic scholar, Mufti Ismail Menk, said Buhari was an upright man, who never missed his prayers and a very disciplined believer who served his people to the best of his ability.“His name was synonymous with integrity.“He was definitely one of those who made me develop a much better perception of Nigerians as a people,’’ he said.The U.S. Mission in Nigeria also condoled with Nigeria.“Buhari was a leader whose life was defined by service, discipline, and a commitment to restore integrity to public office.“His legacy includes his efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions,’’ it said.The Chinese embassy in Nigeria also expressed its condolences.‘’We mourn a resolute leader whose unwavering dedication to Nigeria’s unity and progress leaves an enduring legacy.“His pivotal contributions to advancing China-Nigeria relations will forever remain etched in our shared history,’’ it said.Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was also a former military Head of State like Buhari, said the late president was a comrade, a cool patriot, who as a soldier, played his role.“As an administrator, he played his role as an administrator; as a statesman, he played his role as a statesman.“At a time like this, we need the totality of the experience and what I may call statesmanship of all those who have had opportunities to run the affairs of this country to get us out of the situation we are in; he will be sorely missed; may his soul rest in perfect peace,” Obasanjo said.Tributes have also come in from the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio as well as World Trade Organisation Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.During his campaign in 2015, something spectacular happened.The masses of Nigeria decided to contribute their widows’ mites for his success.What else can a human want than the general believe in his capacity and ability to lead them to the Promised Land?This singular act was a burden placed on him by the people to rectify the past.Analysts say the history of Nigeria will be replete with the roles Buhari played during his three terms leading the country.First, as a military head of state and subsequently, as a democratically elected president between 2015 and 2023.For history to be kind to him, the testimonies of those around him during his time will shape the final options.As an elder statesman, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida once said: “History will be kind to you for taking a decision, but will never be kind to you for not taking a decision.”Buhari accepted most of the mistakes he took while serving the people as exemplified in one of his statements in the course of his handing over the reign of leadership to President Tinubu.“Whoever thought that there has been some form of injustice on him we are all humans, there is no doubt I hurt some people, and I wish they would pardon me and those who think that I have hurt them, please pardon me.”The man that peacefully handed over power to Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan, has some comforting words.‘’He will be remembered as a courageous leader, a disciplined officer, and a committed public servant who made considerable contributions towards the peace and progress of our dear nation.“The late President was deeply admired across the strata of society for his decency, integrity and exemplary life of service.“As a leader, he was selfless in his commitment to his duty and served the country with character and a deep sense of patriotism.‘’In his passing, Nigeria has lost one of its foremost leaders, and I have lost a respected colleague and elder.“His legacy will continue to endure in the hearts of all who value sacrifice, integrity, perseverance and devotion to national ethos,’’ Jonathan said.Buhari was born on Dec. 17, 1942 in Daura, Katsina State to Adamu and Zulaiha Buhari.He was raised by his mother, following the death of his father when he was about four years old; he had his primary school education in Daura and Maidua from 1948 to 1952, before proceeding to Katsina Middle School in 1953.He joined the Nigerian Army in 1961 when he was admitted to the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna.Buhari underwent Officer Cadets training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England from 1962 to 1963, and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in January, 1963.He attended the Nigerian Military College, Kaduna for the Platoon Commanders’ Course from 1963-1964Buoyed by a deep sense of patriotism and commitment to national service, Buhari entered politics in 2003, following Nigeria’s return to a democratic dispensation in 1999.Buhari joined the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and contested the presidential election on its platform that year.He lost to the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Olusegun Obasanjo.Undeterred by defeat, Buhari continued his political struggle, and on Dec. 18, 2006, he emerged as the consensus presidential candidate of the ANPP for the 2007 elections.His main challenger in the April 2007 presidential polls was the ruling PDP candidate, Umaru Yar’Adua.In the election, Buhari officially scored 18 percent of the total votes cast, against 70 percent for Yar’Adua.In March 2010, Buhari left the ANPP and formed, with some of his supporters, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).Buhari was nominated as the CPC presidential candidate on April 16, 2011 for that year’s general election.He ran against the then incumbent, President Jonathan of the ruling PDP, Malam Nuhu Ribadu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Ibrahim Shekarau of the ANPP, and other candidates of smaller parties.Using the platform of the CPC, a newly formed party, Buhari was able to garner 12, 214, 853 votes, coming second to Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), who polled 22, 495, 197 votes.In 2015, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Buhari won the presidential elections of March 28, defeating the incumbent Jonathan of PDP.He was sworn into Office as President, Commander-In Chief of the Armed Forces, and Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2015.After eight years in office, Buhari ensured a smooth transition process; in May 29, 2023, he handed over power to President Bola Tinubu who was also elected under the platform of APC in the February, 2023 presidential election.(NAN)

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OPINION

Naira Spraying Crackdown: Cultural Policing or Economic Necessity?

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In recent months, Lagos has witnessed a sharp intensification of the crackdown on spraying naira notes at social events, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission leading enforcement efforts to uphold currency integrity.In April 2025, popular Lagos socialite Emeka Okonkwo, known as E-Money, was arrested for allegedly spraying both naira and US dollars at public gatherings, an act that violates Nigeria’s currency laws.

In the same month, two social media influencers, Tobilola Olamide (TobiNation) and Peter Olaitan (TDollar), were convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment or a fine for spraying naira notes at a Lagos event, based on viral TikTok videos that triggered EFCC investigations.
These cases underscore the government’s renewed commitment to enforcing the Central Bank Act provisions against currency abuse, amid growing concerns over inflation and economic stability.Beyond Lagos, notable Nigerians have also faced arrest and conviction for spraying naira under the Central Bank Act. Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky) was convicted in April 2024 and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment after his March arrest for spraying at Lagos events.Actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin was arrested in February 2023 for spraying and stepping on new naira notes at a wedding in Lagos, receiving a six-month jail term with an option of a fine. A makeup artist, Abdullahi Huseini (Amuscap), was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in Kano for spraying at his wedding. Cubana Chief Priest was also arrested, etc.We praise the EFCC and the government for doing a great job of protecting the integrity of the naira by ensuring that abusers are punished. We wish and pray that the same swiftness and assurance of convictions be visited on other issues, such as political corruption and insecurity.According to a report by Daily Post 2021, Mr Akin Adewale from a first-generation bank said it was good so that money would not be devalued. What the CBN said was that it spent a lot of money printing it, and the cost is passed on to the economy in the long run. He said, “If the money is rough or torn, its life span is reduced, and printing becomes more frequent, which leads to inflation.”Any person who has been in the country since 2021 will know that the devaluation of the Nigerian currency is closely related to inflation.But what about the cultural significance of spraying money among Nigerian communities?To criminalise spraying money without acknowledging its cultural weight risks violating the social rhythms that bind communities together.In Yoruba culture, spraying money is a revered symbol of honour and respect. It is a way to publicly celebrate and support the success and status of loved ones, affirming social bonds and communal pride. For the Igbo, spraying is an expression of joy and solidarity, a ritual that marks milestones and reinforces communal support. Among the Hausa-Fulani, though less common, similar acts of generosity during celebrations symbolise goodwill and social harmony. The same is also true of many other ethnic groups in the country.Beyond mere festivity, spraying money is a powerful social symbol; it represents abundance, generosity, and the collective sharing of fortune. It is a language of respect, a way to uplift individuals while strengthening community ties. To clamp down on this practice without sensitivity is to risk eroding a cherished cultural expression that nurtures social cohesion.No doubt, many countries have laws prohibiting the mutilation or defacement of currency to protect their integrity. Singapore, Sri Lanka, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada all enforce penalties, ranging from fines to imprisonment, against damaging their money.These regulations reflect a global consensus that currency is both a medium of exchange and a national symbol essential for economic stability. It means Nigeria’s Central Bank Act similarly criminalises currency abuse, including spraying naira notes, to safeguard the naira in line with the value that other nations of the world uphold.By implication, therefore, the culture of enjoying money spraying as a social bonding avenue is an aberration that followed normal political impunity in Nigeria. It’s not really a piece of culture rooted in African cosmology.Political and class dimensions also raise concerns about selective justice and unequal treatment of the elite versus ordinary people. Many countries indeed criminalise the mutilation or defacement of currency to protect its integrity, and Nigeria’s Central Bank Act follows this global practice by outlawing acts like spraying naira notes. However, this raises a deeper question: is criminalising currency abuse more important than implementing policies that genuinely uplift the lives of Nigerians?One must wonder whether the Nigerian government’s crackdown is driven by a sincere commitment to economic reform or simply an attempt to imitate other nations without addressing more pressing issues. It is normal for governments to prioritise certain policies, but if the focus is on enforcing currency laws, then why has there been so little progress in prosecuting terrorists, corrupt officials, or those who steal public funds? Why are governors and government officials rarely held accountable under the law, including the Bank Act?For instance, an online report showed that Thomas Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, a former Niger Delta militant leader, was caught in a viral video from his April 54th birthday celebration dancing while N1,000 notes were sprayed and stepped on, actions considered naira abuse under Nigerian law.Following public outcry, the EFCC vowed in May to investigate and hold him accountable, stressing, “Nobody is above the law.” As of late June, there has been no public update on his arrest or arraignment. If the case of the former Niger Delta militant leader could go this way, how about when a governor or senator is seen committing such an offence? Yet the government ought to look into a balanced approach to naira spraying.No one is in support of mutilating the currency, but a balanced approach to the naira spraying crackdown could help preserve cultural heritage while protecting the currency’s integrity. One solution is public education to raise awareness about the legal restrictions and the economic impact of currency mutilation, encouraging celebrants to handle naira notes with care rather than abandoning the tradition altogether.Additionally, regulated practices could be established where spraying is done respectfully and with minimal damage, such as using designated fresh notes or limiting the amount sprayed, distinguishing between cultural honour and currency abuse. This middle ground respects the ritual’s social significance while aligning with legal and economic concerns.Outright bans risk alienating communities and eroding cultural identity, whereas education, innovation, and sensible regulation offer a path to harmonise tradition with the imperative to protect Nigeria’s fragile economy.Most importantly, instead of merely emphasising the sanctity of the naira, Nigeria should strive to uphold the true rule of law, ensuring justice, fighting corruption, and protecting citizens, just as many other countries do. Without this broader commitment, focusing solely on currency integrity risks appearing superficial and disconnected from the urgent needs of the people.Dr Mbamalu, a Jefferson Journalism Fellow, member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and media consultant, is the publisher of Prime Business Africa

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OPINION

Two Sides of Late Major General Muhammadu Buhari

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The late Major General Muhammadu Buhari, who famously overthrew the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, struck like a thunderbolt. His death, announced yesterday, July 13, 2025, shocked the nation, especially as he appeared healthier than when he was elected President of Nigeria in 2015.

In reflecting on his life and legacy, it is essential to compare the two distinct eras of Buhari’s leadership: first as a military ruler and later as a democratically elected president.
As a military president, Buhari was often perceived as a no-nonsense leader who implemented significant reforms that impacted the political, economic, and social landscape of Nigeria. His initiatives included:i. War Against Indiscipline;ii.
Import Substitution Industrialization Policy;iii. Go Back to Land Programme; andiv. Foreign Policy InitiativesThe announcement of his coup triggered panic among second Republic politicians, who went into hiding, fearing the unknown. Their concerns were not unfounded; the brutal orders that followed forced many into detention without trial for extended periods. While these policies are attributed to General Buhari, some believe they were largely orchestrated by General Tunde Idiagbon, his Chief of Staff, a bold and incorruptible officer who played a crucial role in implementing Buhari’s agenda.Ambassador Lawal Rafindadi, the Director General of the National Security Organization (NSO), also significantly influenced Buhari’s policies. Under his leadership, the NSO detained numerous Nigerians and a few foreigners without trial, while also investigating high-profile corruption cases, including that of Umaru Dikko.Buhari’s name incited a mix of fear and admiration among Nigerians; while his policies benefitted many, they caused distress for others. There is a prevailing belief that Idiagbon and Rafindadi were the true engines of governance during Buhari’s regime. His subsequent overthrow by General Ibrahim Babangida and the ensuing years of incarceration were reminiscent of the betrayal faced by Julius Caesar.When Buhari returned to power as the elected president in 2015, many Nigerians expressed hope that he would revive the transformative policies of his military rule. However, the reality was starkly different; the economy continued to plummet, corruption surged, and social cohesion deteriorated.This raises the question: Were the key figures who had previously supported Buhari—such as Tunde Idiagbon and Lawal Rafindadi—absent during his second tenure? Observing Nigeria’s political and economic landscape at the time, one might conclude that the nation had made progress in governance compared to Buhari’s first administration. Yet, familiar advisers from his earlier days remained influential, including figures like Malam Maman Daura, the late Mamud Tukur, Alhaji Magaji Danbatta, Professor Ango Abdullahi, and General Aliyu Gusau.Some critics have suggested that Buhari’s second coming could be summed up by the adage “once bitten, twice shy.” Rumor has it he confided to close friends that, in his youth, his aspirations to save Nigeria were thwarted; thus, he was unwilling to dedicate his later years to a country that had not recognized his contributions.Despite this backdrop, Buhari’s integrity remained intact. He personally rejected corruption; however, it appeared he overlooked the corrupt practices of those around him. His presence will be missed as a Nigerian statesman capable of fostering stability in various regions. His immediate family and allies will mourn his passing, as will many Nigerians who knew him well.As we ponder Buhari’s legacy, it remains unclear how history will ultimately judge him. Will he be remembered with fondness or skepticism? Only time will tell, as historians analyze his contributions and their impact on Nigeria.Simon Shango MFR writes from Abuja

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