Former President Muhammadu Buhari was a man of paradoxes: a military ruler who later became a twice-elected president and a strict disciplinarian who inspired fierce loyalty in some and bitter disappointment in others.
Yet few Nigerian leaders have shaped the national imagination over such an extended period. Buhari’s journey from a no-nonsense general in the 1980s to a democratically elected leader in the 2010s is more than a personal transformation, it’s a study in Nigeria’s own complex search for order, justice, and progress.
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As Nigerians reflect on his legacy following his death at 82 in London, one thing is clear: Buhari’s two stints in power have a prominent space in the history books.
EKO HOT BLOG examines the two lives of Buhari, including the positives and negatives.
The Soldier: Buhari’s First Coming
When Buhari seized power in December 1983, Nigeria was in economic and political freefall. His military regime took swift and often severe steps to arrest the decline, closing borders, jailing hundreds for corruption, and rejecting the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) structural adjustment demands. It was a time of national austerity and moral rigidity.
His “War Against Indiscipline” became the hallmark of his tenure: soldiers enforced queues at bus stops, banned loitering, and punished lateness with public frog jumps. To his supporters, it was a necessary cultural reset. To his critics, it was tyranny disguised as order.
Nonetheless, Buhari’s early leadership left a lasting imprint on public consciousness. Even those who bristled under his authoritarianism conceded that he meant well and acted with rare conviction in a country plagued by corruption and impunity.
The Democrat: Buhari’s Return via the Ballot Box
Thirty years later, Buhari staged a dramatic political comeback, this time through democratic means. In 2015, he made history by becoming the first opposition candidate to unseat an incumbent president at the polls, riding on a wave of frustration over insecurity and corruption, to beat former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The civilian Buhari was more restrained, more calculated. While the man had not changed much in moral orientation and toughness, the system around him had. As president, he relied on institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), rather than decrees and military tribunals, to combat corruption.
His administration chalked up notable wins: Boko Haram’s influence was sharply diminished, with hundreds of kidnapped Chibok girls freed from Boko Haram enclaves. Military capacity improved, modernising under his watch. Infrastructure saw a cautious revival as rail lines resumed service, roads were expanded, and power projects took shape, though many Nigerians believe the results were often lacking.
Still, governance under Buhari was slow-moving. Critics dubbed him “Baba Go Slow” for his deliberate, sometimes indecisive approach. But others saw a methodical leader trying to lay long-term foundations rather than chasing headlines or popularity.
Shortcomings and Misses
Buhari’s second coming was not without criticism. The economy slid into recession—twice. Inflation soared. His prolonged medical absences raised concerns about transparency and leadership vacuum. Security gains in the northeast were offset by rising banditry, herder-farmer clashes, and separatist agitation elsewhere. His Naira redesign project made many Nigerians stay hours on ATM queues to collect their own money.
Perhaps most damaging was the perception that his anti-corruption war became selective. Opposition figures bore the brunt of investigations, while some ruling party stalwarts appeared untouchable.
The #EndSARS protests in 2020 and subsequent ban on Twitter, now known as X, in June 2021, further strained his relationship with a younger generation yearning for reform, digital freedoms, and justice. His government’s heavy-handed response left a blemish on his democratic credentials.
At some point, a national newspaper decided to start addressing him by his military title of Major General and his administration as a regime due to his perceived undemocratic actions, including refusal to obey certain court orders.
A legacy beyond the binary
To reduce Buhari to a “dictator turned democrat” is too simplistic. His story is not just one of personal redemption or consistency. It is also about how leadership must evolve, or stumble, within the constraints of time, institution, and public expectation.
FURTHER READING
What Buhari achieved, in spite of his flaws, was a steady hand in turbulent times. He championed integrity over expediency, structure over improvisation. His brand of leadership, while occasionally rigid, was rooted in a desire to restore dignity to public life.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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