The passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari marks the end of an era ,one defined by great expectations, mixed legacies, and a lifetime of public service. His journey was long and eventful, filled with both triumphs and trials. He came, he saw, and while he could not conquer all the challenges before him, he left behind a story that history will not easily forget.
President Buhari’s resilience in the face of personal health challenges was remarkable. He defied numerous odds, especially during his presidency, overcoming serious medical crises that would have broken lesser men. Just when it seemed he would settle into the quiet dignity of statesmanship after his time in office, fate had other plans. Having relocated to Kaduna, he appeared poised to take up a symbolic role as a northern elder statesman – shifting the political Mecca from Minna’s Hilltop to the quietude of Kaduna. Before his last journey abroad for medical treatment, he received a flurry of visits from notable figures – the Progressive Governors Forum, Atiku Abubakar, Aminu Tambuwal, Nasir El-Rufai, Abdullahi Ganduje, and the APC National Executive. The President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, was one of his last notable guests.
During his tenure, President Buhari tried to remake Nigeria in line with his ideals. He initiated several projects that have continued to yield results, such as the Sukuk-funded infrastructural developments across the country. His stance on refusing to float the naira, his efforts to keep fuel subsidy for as long as he could, and his battle to arrest inflation all reflected a leadership approach shaped by discipline and control.
However, it is undeniable that his second coming as a civilian president did not quite meet the lofty expectations of many Nigerians. With his reputation as a no-nonsense military leader and his previous tenure as Head of State in the 1980s, the hope was that he would lead Nigeria into a new era of security, prosperity, and justice. Instead, what followed was a tenure fraught with economic difficulties, deepening insecurity, and controversies that dimmed the aura of his previous image.
Some of his needless battles including his crackdown on the Shiite sect led by Sheikh El-Zakzaky, and the handling of the Nnamdi Kanu saga, remain heavily debated, as do the efforts to prosecute those accused of mismanaging security funds. Despite high-profile investigations, few tangible outcomes were achieved.
Yet, toward the end of his tenure, President Buhari showed humility. He publicly asked Nigerians for forgiveness for his shortcomings. That singular act of contrition resonated with many and stands as a moment of grace in his legacy. For me, and many others, we have found it in our hearts to forgive him.
Death is a debt we all must pay. As we mourn his passing, we pray that the Almighty Allah forgives his sins, overlooks his shortcomings, and grants him eternal rest in Aljannah Firdausi. May his family and loved ones find strength and comfort in this time of grief.
President Muhammadu Buhari may not have conquered all the mountains he set out to climb, but he served his country to the best of his ability. His legacy, complex and layered, will be remembered in the fullness of time.
