The legacy of the late Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away yesterday at the age of 82, lives on. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI reports
The news of the demise of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in a London hospital yesterday, has thrown the country into mourning. Across political lines and communities, Nigerians have been reflecting on the life and legacy of a leader whose imprint on the nation was both significant and controversial.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari was the only child of Adamu and Zulaiha Buhari. He lost his father at the tender age of four and was raised by his mother. Even in childhood, Buhari was noted for his discipline, seriousness, and devotion to Islamic values. He received his early education in Daura and Maiduguri and went on to earn his West African School Certificate from Katsina Provincial Secondary School in 1961.
In that same year, Buhari joined the Nigerian Army. His military education took him to the Mons Officer Cadet School in the United Kingdom, India’s Defence Services Staff College, and the United States Army War College. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1963, Buhari fought in the Nigerian civil war and quickly rose through the ranks, commanding major military formations and cultivating a reputation as a disciplined and incorruptible officer.
On December 31, 1983, he led a coup that ousted the civilian government of President Shehu Shagari, citing widespread corruption and economic mismanagement. His military regime launched the famous “War Against Indiscipline (WAI),” a nationwide campaign that sought to restore order and ethical behaviour in public life. Citizens were fined for littering, tardiness was punished, and public officials were held to a higher standard.
While some Nigerians admired his firm stance on morality and governance, others viewed his administration as authoritarian. Media censorship, secret military tribunals, and prolonged detentions without trial sparked criticism. In August 1985, General Ibrahim Babangida overthrew him in a palace coup. Buhari was detained in Benin City until his release in 1988.
After years of retirement from the military, Buhari returned to politics in 2003. He contested presidential elections in 2003 and 2007 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), but lost both. Refusing to retreat, he co-founded the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2010 and contested the 2011 presidential election on the party’s platform. After losing that election, he vowed to step away from partisan politics. However, he was later persuaded to take another shot at the presidency.
His persistence culminated in a historic 2015 election victory under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC), making him the first opposition candidate to unseat an incumbent president in Nigeria’s democratic history. He was re-elected in 2019, defeating Atiku Abubakar in a tense and highly polarised race.
Bold ambitions, persistent tensions, and mixed results defined Buhari’s presidency. One of his earliest moves was to launch a sweeping anti-corruption campaign. Under his watch, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged hundreds of public figures with embezzlement, bribery, and abuse of office. His government recovered over $300 million in stolen assets held overseas. The introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) centralised federal revenue streams and reportedly saved over N5 trillion by 2017.
Facing the fallout from a global collapse in oil prices, Buhari’s economic policy leaned heavily towards self-sufficiency. His administration championed import substitution, invested in public infrastructure, and cut subsidies in efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s finances. However, these efforts came at a high cost. Inflation spiked, unemployment surged, and the naira weakened, causing significant hardship for millions of Nigerians.
On the security front, Buhari took office vowing to crush Boko Haram and other forms of insecurity. The group’s territorial control diminished during his presidency, aided by an aggressive military campaign and international cooperation. Still, insecurity lingered. New waves of banditry, kidnappings, and communal violence in the Middle Belt and Northwest exposed the limits of the government’s security apparatus.
Buhari’s leadership style reflected his military roots. His governance was marked by order, hierarchy, and often a disregard for dissent. While he presented himself as a reformed democrat, critics frequently accused his administration of repressing press freedoms, manipulating elections, and sidelining opposition voices. His legacy as a democrat remains hotly debated.
On a personal level, Buhari was a man of simplicity and devotion. His first marriage to Safinatu Yusuf produced five children before she died in 2006. He later married Aisha Halilu in 1989. Devout and disciplined, he often fasted beyond religious obligations and maintained a sparse lifestyle, even as head of state.
After completing his constitutionally mandated two terms in May 2023, Buhari retired to a quieter life, though persistent health issues led to frequent medical visits abroad. His former aide, Bashir Ahmad, confirmed Buhari’s death via social media. The announcement triggered a national wave of mourning.
In his tribute to the departed leader, President Bola Tinubu expressed sorrow and called Buhari “a man of unshakeable duty,” praising his efforts to lay the foundation for institutional integrity. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who once ousted Buhari from office, offered condolences: “We shared conflict, but we shared country. May his resolve inspire unity.”
Former Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode described him as “a patriot whose discipline shaped public service ethos.” The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last general election, Peter Obi, also hailed Buhari as a patriot. Obi said on social media: “His principles were rigid, but his love for Nigeria was real. May his soul rest.”
Many ordinary Nigerians would remember him fondly as “Baba Buhari.” Deeply religious and reserved in demeanour, Buhari is revered in many parts of Northern Nigeria as a moral figure.
Buhari’s legacy is filled with several memories. He was a moralist whose rigid sense of right and wrong reshaped public life. He set new benchmarks for transparency in governance, introducing systems like the TSA that continue to influence public finance today. His anti-corruption campaign challenged the culture of impunity that had long plagued Nigeria’s elite.
He also leaves behind a record of economic nationalism that sought to reduce Nigeria’s dependency on oil. His agricultural policies pushed for local production of rice and other food crops, and his government invested heavily in transport infrastructure. However, his economic reforms, while visionary in intent, often proved painful in execution, with the poorest Nigerians bearing the brunt.
In national security, Buhari succeeded in pushing back Boko Haram but failed to restore peace fully. The rise of new violent actors underscored how complex and entrenched the country’s security problems had become. His reliance on military solutions often fell short in addressing root causes such as poverty, marginalisation, and a weak and centralised policing system.
Reactions to Buhari’s passing have been solemn, unified, and reflective. State funeral preparations are underway, with services expected in both Abuja and his hometown, Daura. His body will be flown home for burial under Islamic rites, and a national day of mourning has been declared.
Buhari’s death brings an era to a close. He leaves behind a country still grappling with many of the issues he tried to resolve. But he also leaves behind a set of standards, values, and institutional reforms that have changed the framework of governance in the country. Whether history will view him as a stern reformer or something more complicated remains to be seen.
In mourning Buhari, Nigeria mourns not just a man, but a symbol of discipline, duty, and determination. As the nation looks ahead, it does so with the memory of a leader who, through triumph and turbulence, insisted that leadership must mean something more than power: it must mean purpose.
