Since July 13, 2025, when former President Muhammadu Buhari passed away in a London hospital and was subsequently buried in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, there has been a deluge of eulogies for the former Nigerian leader. In his honour, the Federal Government declared a one-day public holiday on the day of his burial and further directed that the Nigerian flag fly at half-mast for seven days. Legislative activities were equally suspended for seven days to allow government representatives to participate in the burial rites of the elder statesman.
Some states in the North also halted various activities in a bid to pay their last respects to the late former president. All of this was expected, for the late former president meant different things to different people – the political class and especially the ordinary Nigerians whose lives his leadership, whether as a military head of state or as a civilian president, had impacted. He was one of the few men in Nigeria’s history to have ruled the country both as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985 and again as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
A man with such a towering figure and privilege certainly made history, and he will be remembered, rightly or wrongly, whenever the history of Nigeria is x-rayed by generations to come. Eminent Nigerians who paid tribute to him spoke of his discipline, humility, focus, and well-cultured character. They described him as a courageous man who remained undeterred after three unsuccessful attempts to clinch the highest position in the land, which he eventually secured on his fourth attempt. Indeed, at moments like this, words are usually not enough to capture the mood of everyone. What is important, therefore, is the lesson learned by all, especially those who are leaders in our society today.
His passing reminds us that a day like this will certainly come for everyone, whether you are a public figure or not, and the question remains: What will people say about you? Late former President Buhari superintended over the affairs of the country twice, and we cannot but reflect on how he fared as a leader who came into office with the popular support of Nigerians. Did he, therefore, leave Nigeria better than he met it? Opinions on how he governed and what he achieved as president differ, as evident in commentaries since his demise.
The state of the economy two years after he left office attests to the fact that it is not yet Uhuru, a reality his successor has acknowledged and continues to battle. In fact, some political pundits have described Nigeria’s current economy as decayed and jaundiced. What cannot be erased is that the former Nigeria’s number one citizen was an accomplished soldier but not necessarily an achiever in terms of societal development during his eight years of civilian rule. His achievements and leadership style as a military head of state contradicted much of what he stood for during his civilian presidency. His economic policy was a nightmare, as Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world.
Under his watch, Nigeria suffered severe blight. Sacred institutions were demystified, and corruption, which continues to bedevil the country today, wore a bold face during his tenure. Terrorists, bandits, and killer herders sacked villages at will, yet those arrested were integrated back into society and rehabilitated while their victims were left in the cold. Unarmed young protesters clad in national colours, whose only offence was calling for good governance and better living conditions, were not spared. During his time also, nepotism, ethnic, tribal, and religious divisions reached their peak. The deep-seated divisions in society today festered because the leader turned a blind eye and, in fact, elevated them, as certain tribes became untouchable during his reign.
The corruption he promised during his campaign to fight to a standstill indeed overwhelmed him, and those who worked under him capitalised on his long absences from office owing to ill health to plunder the nation’s wealth. The unity and social cohesion of the country were thrown overboard. His many missteps landed us where we are today as a nation. For example, the fact that our former president died in a foreign hospital does not dignify the country at all. What this means is that there is no capable hospital in Nigeria that can treat a sitting or former president, because for eight years his administration could not fix the health care system.
As a human being, he knew he had wronged Nigerians, given the popularity he enjoyed all those years as a “repented democrat,” and that was why he asked for forgiveness. Yes, Nigerians may have forgiven, but they have not forgotten. While we wish him eternal repose, we call on today’s leaders to show leadership, provide direction, and do what is right. They should also learn from the pitfalls of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who asked for forgiveness from his countrymen and women. Forgiveness is good, but where all of us are going, it is God who is the final arbiter. Nigerians deserve better than where we are currently as a people.
