By Ahmad Shuaibu Isa
Today, while traveling, I came across an article online by Femi Adesina, lauding former Nigerian President General Muhammadu Buhari with excessive praise, even going so far as to call him a “friend of the poor.” While the writer was celebrating Buhari’s 82nd birthday, it seems he has overlooked a crucial aspect: simply wishing him a happy birthday would have been more considerate, especially in light of the suffering faced by the marginalized Nigerians under Buhari’s rule.
The article presents an overly optimistic and idealized image of Buhari as a leader committed to the well-being of the poor, but this perspective fails to address the real challenges and flaws of his administration.
First, the portrayal of Buhari as a “Friend of the Poor” is fundamentally misleading. While the article highlights his efforts to ensure salaries and pensions were paid during the COVID-19 lockdown, it completely overlooks the far-reaching economic struggles ordinary Nigerians endured under his leadership. His administration’s policies, particularly concerning inflation and unemployment, worsened the situation for many. Inflation skyrocketed, diminishing the purchasing power of the average Nigerian, while unemployment rates reached disturbing levels. Under Buhari, many Nigerians saw no improvement in their living standards, and poverty became even more widespread.
The article also credits Buhari with “bailing out” governors and preventing large-scale layoffs in the civil service, presenting this as a compassionate act. However, this glosses over the deeper implications of these actions. The financial aid to state governments often served as a temporary solution, and the bloated civil service remained inefficient. These measures did little to address the core issues of Nigeria’s economy, such as dependence on oil revenue, widespread corruption, and poor governance.
When discussing fuel subsidies, the article asserts that Buhari maintained them “for the sake of the ordinary people,” but this claim is questionable. While fuel subsidies did provide some immediate relief to consumers, they also drained the nation’s finances and promoted inefficiency within the oil sector. The long delay in addressing the subsidy issue exacerbated Nigeria’s financial difficulties. Had Buhari acted earlier to remove them, the process could have been less disruptive and more manageable.
Buhari’s administration was also plagued by severe security challenges, such as the Boko Haram insurgency, rising banditry, and other forms of violence. The infamous Zaria massacre, in which hundreds of Sheikh Zakzaky’s followers were killed, is another dark chapter that undermines the image of Buhari as a “friend of the poor.” It’s worth considering the fates of other leaders with similar records, such as Charles Taylor, Slobodan Milošević, Saddam Hussein, and Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir—can they also be considered “friends of the poor”? Despite his promises to restore security, many Nigerians lived in constant fear due to the government’s failure to adequately address these security threats.
The claim that Buhari won the loyalty of ordinary Nigerians is an oversimplification. While he enjoyed significant support in certain regions, his administration faced widespread criticism for neglecting vital sectors such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Economic mismanagement and the neglect of these areas fueled widespread dissatisfaction across the country. Buhari’s leadership ultimately failed to deliver the systemic changes needed to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
In conclusion, the article’s portrayal of Buhari as a champion of the poor does not reflect the reality many Nigerians faced during his presidency. His economic policies, mishandling of security, disregard for human rights, and delayed responses to pressing issues contradict the image of a leader genuinely dedicated to the welfare of the common people.
Ahmad Shuaibu Isa