BOLAJI OGUNDELE recalls the times of former President Muhammadu Buhari, battles with ill-health, undeniable legacy in leadership and how Nigeria is likely to remember him.
In the lead up to the 2015 presidential election, one of the points for figures in the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to mock the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) was the frail look of its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. The drag got to a point where those in the ruling party, especially the then Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, took choice spots in several national dailies to place paid obituary advertisement of the man who would soon be the Commander-in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The election was held, Buhari won, becoming the first opposition candidate to oust a sitting Nigerian President. He made the run through his first term, ran a second time for the office and won again. A lot happened within those eight years, what never happened was his death which had been foretold by the PDP. He lasted more than 10 years after his political traducers in the opposition predicted his death before he finally signed out.
Meanwhile, his run of the country was not entirely a smooth sail, especially when talking about his humanness; he lived and lead like a normal human; ate when hungry, slept when nature called, joked when situation called for it, lost his cool when he felt the need to do so, especially when the media tested his tolerance for inappropriateness or indiscipline and fell ill when his frail, old body felt the pressure of leading a nation as complex as Nigeria. He finally yielded to one of such occasions of sickness yesterday.
Yesterday, Sunday, July 13, in a hospital in the United Kingdom (UK), Baba Maigaskiya, as Buhari was fondly called, answered the last call of his creator, he yielded to a yet-to-be-disclosed illness..
Early presidential years clouded by ill health and questions of capacity
Buhari’s health challenges began early in his presidency, raising questions about stability. In early 2016, he traveled abroad for medical treatment, diagnosed as an ear infection—prompting criticism of “health tourism” and leaving Nigerians uneasy about the transparency of his government’s medical disclosures. Within weeks, his presence again vanished as he sought extended care abroad.
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By mid-2017, concerns escalated dramatically. Buhari departed Nigeria on May 7 for what would become an unprecedented 103‑day medical sojourn in the UK. At the time, reports indicated that he had spent 153 of the first 231 days of the year overseas for medical treatment, igniting intense public debate about governance and continuity.
Nigerian media and civil society groups launched protests and online campaigns urging the President either to return or to transfer significant authority temporarily. Observers decried a “diminished” presidency due to his prolonged absence.
When Buhari finally returned on August 19, 2017, to a scene of jubilance at Abuja airport, he made little public comment other than, “you can assess for yourself—I am better.” Yet the complex questions lingered: Who had been leading, and was the nation equipped for sustained stability when its leader was unwell?
During that year alone, Buhari spent a total of 152 days abroad, emergency medical trips that included further visits in early 2017 and May 2018. Such intermittence in leadership underscored a public discourse balancing empathy for ailing leaders and concerns around executive fitness and transparency.
Buhari’s second term began May 29, 2019, promising continuity of his first-term priorities. Critics and supporters alike noted that his international medical trips decreased markedly; though there were occasional trips in 2021, none matched the gravity or length of earlier absences.
Freed somewhat from the spectre of ill health, Buhari shifted focus to advancing his ambitions in governance—through reforms in infrastructure, digital transformation, anti-corruption, and security.
Infrastructure Renaissance: Rails, Roads, Bridges, Ports
Infrastructure stood as a cornerstone of Buhari’s second-term achievements. Standard-gauge railway lines connecting Abuja–Kaduna (2016) and Lagos–Ibadan (June 2021) opened to passengers. The Abuja light rail, launched in 2018, resumed operations as COVID restrictions eased.
The Warri–Itakpe rail line spurred economic growth in central Nigeria. Nigeria boasted more kilometres of rail track in 2023 than at independence. Sukuk bonds and the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) financed extensive highway development—8,353 km of completed roads, 896 km rehabilitated—and major airport upgrades in Abuja and Enugu .
The iconic Second Niger Bridge, funded through PIDF, opened in phases (March 2022, fully operational December 2022), spanning 1.59 km and easing transport between the commercial East and South. Lagos–Ibadan expressway and major seaport projects—including Lekki Super Port and inland dry ports—were completed via public–private partnerships, improving interstate and international trade. These tangible milestones positioned Buhari’s administration as a builder of foundational trade and transport networks—legacy projects that many argue will have long-term national impact.
Digital governance and institutional reform
Buhari’s second term embraced the digital revolution: In November 2019, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) was launched, steering government online. In October 2020, official policy standardized virtual engagements for public institutions, which later facilitated remote meeting capabilities during the COVID‑19 pandemic. In February 2022, the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau was created to regulate data rights and privacy. These reforms aimed to modernize governance and build a digital native public administration.
Anti‑Corruption Caesar and Economic Reforms
Continuing his hallmark “war on graft” from his 2015 campaign, Buhari’s second term saw:
Further expansion of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which had already saved over ₦5 trillion by 2017; revenue centralization under Buhari continued into his second term. Strengthened anti-corruption prosecutions: Over 600 convictions by EFCC between 2015–2018, including high-profile figures like Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen and top military officers. The 2019 Finance Act reorganized fiscal transparency, bolstering anti-graft efforts. Yet critics argued the approach was selective, targeting political rivals more than party affiliates or allies.
Agriculture, social welfare and regional leadership
Buhari’s agenda extended to agriculture, public health, and African leadership:
He backed large-scale AFDB investments, supported national agricultural transformation, and promoted the “Great Green Wall” to combat desertification. He also launched social welfare initiatives aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at poverty alleviation and rural uplift. He welcomed international acclaim: named African Union Anti‑Corruption Champion (2018), ECOWAS COVID‑19 Champion (2020), and President of the Pan-Africa Great Green Wall (2021). He also took leadership roles in regional security interventions: deployed forces to the Gambia in 2016 to restore democratic order, engaged the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram .
Under his administration, the Nigerian Center for Disease Control gained statutory power and received ₦5 billion for pandemic preparedness.
Security and economic challenges
Despite structural gains, Buhari’s second term was clouded by persistent national challenges:
Economic headwinds included two recessions (2016, 2020), runaway inflation, over 20% unemployment, and unimproved poverty rates—earning Nigeria the ignominious title of “poverty capital of the world”. The strongest economic sector remained agriculture, though constrained by insecurity, fragmented policy execution, and land tenure issues. Security crises—including Boko Haram resurgences, banditry, kidnappings, and separatist agitation—eroded public confidence.
The paradox of performance and perception
Buhari’s leadership style—exemplifying military discipline and moral austerity—won him respect, especially in his northern stronghold. But his governance approach, often described as slow and distant, alienated many across the nation. While he embodied integrity and purpose, critics characterized his presidency as lacking empathy, coordination, and urgency.
Still, there remains consensus that his administration succeeded in securing financial resources and delivering visible infrastructure—distinct accomplishments in Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.
Final Act: Death and national response
On Sunday, July 13, 2025, at approximately, former President Buhari died in a London clinic after a long, undisclosed illness. In response, President Bol Ahmed Tinubu immediately ordered national flags be flown at half-mast for seven days, and convened an emergency Federal Executive Council session scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday. Tinubu also dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to London to escort Buhari’s remains home .
In a personal tribute, Tinubu mourned Buhari, saying he “was, to the very core, a patriot, a soldier, a statesman” and pledged “full state honours befitting his towering contributions.” He described Buhari’s legacy of discipline, anti-corruption, unity, and service as qualities to inspire future generations and urged national prayers for his peaceful repose.
Bridging his life’s contradictions
Buhari’s story is a testament to dichotomy. Physically fragile yet mentally resolute, he pursued long-sought goals of infrastructural modernization and governance reform, even as Nigeria contended with insecurity, economic turbulence, and questions over leadership efficacy.
From military head of state in the mid-1980s to elected President in 2015 and 2019, Buhari embodied a disciplined, austere vision for national uplift. His policies—most notably infrastructural projects, fiscal reforms, and anti-corruption prosecutions—remain embedded in Nigeria’s institutional memory.
Muhammadu Buhari’s passing draws a moment of national introspection. His leadership brought measurable improvement in connectivity, digital transformation, and financial accountability. At the same time, his era was plagued by persistent poverty, unrelenting insecurity, and public mistrust.
Nigerians now face the complex legacy of a man who inspired authenticity and austerity but was challenged by transparency and inclusion.
Tinubu’s bridge to the future
In mourning, President Tinubu has chosen to exalt Buhari’s virtues of patriotism, discipline and unity. His declaration of full state honour and a national mourning week reflects an official elevation of the late leader’s narrative.
Yet, as Nigeria lights flags and lays wreaths, the nation also stands at an inflection point. Will future leaders build on infrastructure and governance reforms? Will accountability, development, and security gain priority? Buhari’s tenure offers both precedent and caution: ambition matched by constraint. As Tinubu ushers in a period of reflection and homage, Nigerian citizens will continue the work Buhari began—guided by lessons of courage and complexity.