What can you remember General Muhammadu Buhari for?

Former President Muhammadu Buhari died two weeks ago. KINGSLEY ALUMONA samples the opinions of some Nigerians on what they remember about the late president. Their views:

Dominic Dugu

General Muhammadu Buhari is primarily remembered for his focus on fighting corruption, insecurity, and revamping Nigeria’s infrastructure. During his democratic presidency (2015-2023), his administration initiated extensive infrastructure projects, notably in roads and rail, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge. He also implemented policies aimed at improving agricultural output through programmes like the Anchor Borrowers Programme. However, his tenure was also marked by economic challenges, concerns over human rights, and persistent insecurity in some regions.

Rabiu Abdallah

No doubt, the late former President Buhari promised Nigerians heaven on earth, but unfortunately, he failed woefully. He faced numerous challenges during his first team. First, upon resumption as president, reality set in. The administration struggled through the pandemic, the global recession, two economic recessions, and insecurity.

No president would come to power to purposely bring hardships to the people. Buhari did his best for the country. The huge challenges he faced as president were the reasons for his failure. Many Nigerians remembered Buhari as the president who ushered in economic hardship in the country, but forgot the previous incidents that plagued his administration and created these economic situation.

Iwolode Joseph Adelani

When late President Buhari’s government came into power in 2015, there was a wild jubilation everywhere. We felt he would instil discipline like he did in 1983, as the Head of State, when he set up ‘War against indiscipline’. He came this time with a different idea ─ ideas like Ruga, water reserve for cattle and herders who were mainly his kinsmen. Towards the end of his government, they introduced a naira redesign, which led to most Nigerians losing their valuables and even lives during the process. Buhari’s government was controversial.

Baba Olowo

Late General Buhari’s regime in 1983-85 crackdown on corruption through Decrees 2 and 4, which allowed for the detention of individuals without trial and the suppression of press freedom. These events left lasting scars on Nigeria. Buhari, who once prosecuted others for corruption, oversaw an administration where similar accusations persisted. While he did accept the 2015 electoral process peacefully — and even credited Jonathan’s concession as vital to national stability — critics argue that his re-election in 2019 was tainted by allegations of irregularities, including underage voting and voter suppression, especially in parts of the North. Many Nigerians express deep disappointment, particularly over unmet expectations by his government. After the initial optimism in 2015, especially with his ‘Change’ mantra, many felt betrayed by his governance outcomes.

Akintoye Adebareh Abdulakeem

It used to be hell crossing into Asaba from Onitsha. But today, it’s not the same thing. I remember Buhari every time I cross the old Niger Bridge on my way home in Onitsha.

Hambali Isah

Former President Buhari remains a man of integrity ─ no traces of syphoning public funds while he was in office. He implemented subsidy. He created more institutions. He built the 2nd Niger Bridge. He built roads, rail tracks, and many more.

Mahmud Halimat Sa’adia

There is one thing we do not understand. Being a leader is not easy, and we should remember that if we wish late Buhari well, someone else would do the same for us on the same day.

Ibukunoluwa Beatrice Adeleke

I was enlisted into one of Nigeria’s para-military in 2016 during Buhari’s regime, and history made it known that he improved the welfare of my organisation before the time I joined.

Daniel Raymond

The late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from 2015 to 2023 saw significant achievements across various sectors. The notable ones are recorded healthcare, infrastructure development, economic reforms, security and defence, social investment and poverty alleviation, and COVID-19 survival funds to business owners and bailout funds for state governments. These are a few out of many that the late former President Buhari did for Nigeria and Nigerians.

Charles Victor

General Muhammadu Buhari will be remembered for both good and bad. On the good side, he pushed for big projects like the Second Niger Bridge and tried to fight corruption and boost farming. Some people saw him as disciplined and focused. But on the flip side, life got harder for many Nigerians under his government. Things like food prices, insecurity, and joblessness got worse. His government also banned Twitter at some point, which upset a lot of young people. While some respected him, many others felt let down and disconnected from his leadership.

Mas’ud Ibrahim Akajewole

I belong to nobody, I belong to everybody. I am not the possession of any one person, group, or interest. I belong to no one — yet, I stand for everyone. My duty is not to serve power, but to serve the people. Justice, not favouritism, shall guide my actions. The voice of many, not the whispers of a few, shall shape my path. These are what I remember the late Buhari for.

Adebayo Aka

The late General Buhari was known to Nigerians first as a disciplined soldier and a disciplinarian who abhorred corruption in its totality. When he returned in 2015 as president, Nigerians’ expectations were not met, probably because of some agendas. He was, after all, not the expected saviour. I am tempted to see him as a tribal bigot given his refusal to support the candidacy of Bola Tinubu during the APC presidential primaries in 2023. I remember him particularly for two things ─ the 1983 war against indiscipline (WAI) and the cry he cried in the preparation of the 2015 presidential election. That cry was due to the feeling that he would not win again, not for his passion.

Ridwan Asafa

Buhari tried his best to lift Nigeria. I benefit from his initiative, the (N-sip) empowerment. I can say a lot of people also benefited from it. It is just that Nigerian’s do not appreciate things. Many who benefited from his government would not say so. It would be good if Nigerians settled down and thought about how the government works. We should be tired of this tale about the government. Nothing is served on a platter of gold. Whoever seeks growth would face many trials. Nigerians should seek knowledge so they can grow.

Nasiru Namadi

Former late President Buhari is a man of principle ─ the principle of the rule of law, patriotism, sacrifice, discipline, honesty, justice, patience, and forgiveness. He believed that Nigeria could work and become a home where citizens would live in peace and harmony irrespective of tribe, religion, or regional differences. He also laid down the foundation for a united, progressive, and prosperous country in which citizens could feed themselves through agricultural practice and the closure of borders. He also laid the foundation for the establishment of Dangote Refinery to curtail the menace of fuel importation, which became a threat to the Nigerian economy. He also improved the rapport that exists between Nigeria and the wider world. He initiated various development projects such as the railway, pipeline, anco-borrower, trader-money, N-Power, etc.

In fact, Buhari is nice, gentile, straightforward, and trustworthy. He kept his promises. We are deeply saddened by his death.

Paul-great Adams

Granting us audience twice as a presidential candidate and as the sitting president. He was down-to-earth as we discussed with him at the International Conference Centre and later in Aso Rock. I remember his simplicity, waiting in the hall, shaking hands with us and listening, cracking some jokes and passing his message, which at some point begged us to allow the vice president to continue and complete his message from the paper he was reading. The rest is history and a topic for another day.

Suanu Anyekere

Buhari was the Head of State the year I graduated from the university in 1983 at the age of 23. He was president when I retired from service after 32 years at the age of 60. Meaning: his leadership had a huge impact on my productive years.

Abdulrazak Iliyasu Sansani

I vividly remember the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as an upright man, a patriotic Nigerian, and a firm believer in whatever cause he pursued. Although he might not have met the high expectations the country had of him as president, he strove to the best of his ability based on his age, health status, and the challenges he encountered. I would forever remember him as a leader who rose to power based on the free mandate given by the masses against all odds. I would never forget the fact that one can succeed if one keeps trying, as he did on the fourth attempt. I cannot adequately assert my view for want of space. But I want all our leaders to know power is transient and should learn from the former president’s successes and shortcomings.

Olajide Kehinde

Buhari happened to be one of the best presidents Nigeria would ever have. During his regime, he blocked the border for about two years, which reduced the number of imports of goods, especially agricultural produce, to Nigeria. This led to the operation ‘Go back to the farm’. Nigerians started farming, and this made Nigeria one of the top ten countries in the production of agricultural produce. Buhari understand that the economy cannot grow if we keep depending on imports of food, which we can farm and produce here in our country. This is the same step Tinubu took by removing fuel subsidy because he understands that the economy cannot grow if we continue to buy our resources from foreigners.

Adegunju Lukman

The major contribution of his infrastructures development like second River Niger bridge in onitsha, initiation of rail line and the N-power project etc While on the other part, he will not be forgotten for toppling the Democratic setting administration by the general Olusegun Obasanjo as 2nd republic which brought elected president, Sheu Shagari into power in 1979 but dethroned in 1983 by President Muhammad Buhari. And the advent of banditry insurgency with his sympathy for herdsmen bandits, which paved the way for differences among the ethnic groups in Nigeria

Kayode Johnson

As a trauma advocate, I see more than politics. I see a man who, despite power, still met pain, loss, and death. Just like all of us will one day. Whether you loved his government or not, one thing is certain ─ grief does not choose sides. In the end, we all break. We all bleed. We all leave.

OluwaFemi J. Olagunju

Every leader has their bad and good sides. The late President Buhari would be remembered for causing the economy to go into depression two different times. He would be remembered as a president who promised to fight corruption but could not. He would also be remembered as a president who wasted Nigerian funds on medical tourism. He was the Nigerian leader for almost eight years, but failed to give Nigeria at least one hospital of international standards that he could use. He also plunged Nigeria into huge debts, and inflation grew into double digits from the single digits he met it. He failed woefully on security as insecurity grew astronomically.

He, however, would also be remembered for concluding the railway projects that the Jonathan administration had almost concluded before leaving and also starting new ones. He also established about 30 new tertiary institutions. He started the N-Power project, which gave stipends to youths, the Borrowers Anchor Programme, and the Trader Money. He stopped the collection of application fees for federal job vacancies like the Army, Navy, etc.

Tommywa Joseph

A simple man who left his footprints of sorrow in the heart of many Nigerians, and generations to come would ask us why we were so complacent to have allow ourselves to be messed up for eight years and stupid for celebrating the death of a man who leaved a fulfilled life, died at old age, and was able to have secured the future of his 10th generation. What a simple man.

Abdulrahman Lawan Kolomi

I would remember former President Muhammadu Buhari for his integrity, honesty, and love for the common people. Baba Buhari contributed immensely to stopping Boko Haram from taking over my state, Borno. I would also remember him for his unprecedented efforts in providing mass housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs). I would forever be grateful to him and would always remain a Buharist.

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