Au Revoir! The Buhari Era Of Oddity -By Femi Amosun

“If Nigeria doesn’t kill Corruption; Corruption will kill Nigeria” Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, 2014

As we reflect on the Buhari tyrannical and bad Administration of perpetual unconformity for eight years, we should also be cognizant of the probability of another rough ride ahead.

In October 2021, the world-renowned Economist (UK) published an exceptional paper in which it described the government of President Muhammadu Buhari “as inept and high-handed, adding that it also failed to tackle corruption” Though one may understand that a military orientation is completely different from civilian’s interpretation of “Serving” the people. After eight years of Maladministration, Nepotism, humongous Abuse of Power and Resources, perpetual Corruption, 77 trillion naira ($167 billion) in debt, 133 million poverty-stricken people, 25m people at the risk of hunger according to UNICEF,10m out of school children, blatant murderous Fulani herdsmen, mass Killings, Kidnappings, Banditry, incarcerations of Nnamdi kanu and Sunday Igboho. Many right-thinking Nigerians can now see that Mr. Buhari was never interested in public service or public good. Buhari was never motivated nor driven by any philosophical exactitude or political ideology, but merely motivated by alter-ego, altered-psyche, recklessness, and brazen Greed. The last insidious straw (anti-peoples’ policy) that broke the camel’s back would appear to be the antagonistic and maleficent act of “Naira Redesign policy” which imposed economic dehumanization on fellow Nigerians. The now erstwhile President literally left Nigerians confused and helpless, like flock without a shepherd. While all these aberrations and lacklustre attitude were been perpetrated against Nigerians, our 469 lawmakers were moribund, mute and did nothing to check the President excesses and his infused arrogance. The sad reality of his Administration and misdemeanors fit into the profound negative narratives and perceptions of our Country.

As many observers (or readers) may recollect, Buhari after losing three consecutive Presidential elections he changed his strategy and adopted a facade of Calmness, non-Combatant, and People-friendly posture. He publicly pronounced himself as “Converted Democratic”. On assumption of Office, the impenitent “Military General” swiftly changed and became an oddity. The educated thinking is that Muhammadu Buhari, both as a President and a former Military Head of State, conspicuously failed to add any meaningful value to our country. It is, therefore, not so unfortunate that by fifth or sixth year into his lopsided and corruption-infested Administration about ninety percent of those who made sonic noise for his Presidency in 2015 quietly deserted him. Ode to fi fila pa Erin; ijo kan ni iyi e mo (A hunter that killed an elephant with a magical charm will only be honoured for a day).

In recent times, we’ve seen how the Citizens of the United States of America kicked out a President who came to Office with his own Personal Agenda. Paradoxically, a similar intervention took place in the United Kingdom (UK) where Members of Parliament (MPs) smoothly brought down a narcissist Prime Minister who lack moral compass or the ability to do the right. It’s profoundly clear that these two Countries (and other Western countries) are built on national principles. Their Citizens expect (actually demand) high moral ground, etiquette and the highest standards from their leaders.

At the heights of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo Nigeria witnessed exponential development. The trio, especially Chief Awolowo achieved not only outstanding regional development but unrivalled achievements, and positively propelled the then Western Nigeria unto the World stage. Today, Nigeria and the so-called leaders are only known for all the social vices that have befallen our country yet they’re ecstatic in parading themselves as leaders while the International community laugh and make jokes about us. Even a country like South Africa, whom Nigeria helped during the Apartheid era, would mock and shame Nigerians who ignorantly venture into their country. Of course, the South Africans (and others countries) ardently ‘follow’ our leaders and politicians and can see how they behave (Personality flimflam mentality), their voracious and insane quest for looting while the population remains in abject poverty.

The former Army Officer and erstwhile President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, therefore, will be remembered for his disdain arrogance, ineptitude, maladroitness, and senseless economic policies (aided by some delusional individuals who portray themselves as “gods”) that caused numerous hardships for his fellow Nigerians. His combative and extravagantly arrogant Aides shall also be remembered as ultra-conceited, vile, offensive to the senses or sensibilities, repulsive, and superciliousness individuals who also failed to add any meaningful value to the whole essence of Governance. Mr. Buhari-led Administration of 2015-2023 will be intuitively, and correctly, be remembered as a religion and ethnicity-infested government that achieved monumental failure beyond cluttered proportion.

So in the twilight (gradual decline) of his tenure, the Muhammadu Buhari government ended up terrorizing itself and shamefully exit the political landscape as the worst government ever seen in our country, Nigeria. They may’ve learnt the bitter lesson that Governance is not about being flamboyant, making lousy bragging right, aimlessly boasting and making life less meaningful for the citizenry.

As virtuous Nigerians, may we never see the likes of Muhammad Buhari again in Nigeria. SHALOM!

Femi Amosun is a strategic planning and finance expert with distinctive zeal for sustainable development through responsible governance and accountability.