Muhammadu Buhari
Udu Yakubu
Former President, Muhammadu Buhari, is 82 years old today. Born on 17 December 1942, he has etched his name into the annals of Nigerian history as a leader dedicated to the nation’s progress in uncommon ways. As he celebrates another landmark year, it is fitting to reflect on the qualities and achievements that distinguish him as a strategic and transformative leader.
Buhari rose to national prominence as a military leader who, in 1983, took on the reins of power during a time of economic turbulence and political instability. Though his military regime was brief, it set the stage for his reputation as a no-nonsense leader with an iron will against corruption and mismanagement.
After his military regime, Buhari did not fade into obscurity. As Petroleum Minister a few years before he became Head of State, he laid the foundation for the development of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, investing heavily in infrastructure – pipelines, storages facilities, refineries, etc. He returned in the mid-1990s as Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund during the Abacha regime, using the resources from the Fund to aggressively pursue infrastructure development across all regions of the country.
Buhari soon transformed himself into a persistent democratic politician. He contested the presidential elections in 2003, 2007, and 2011, losing each time. These defeats, however, only strengthened his resolve.
People kept saying he couldn’t win, urging him to give up. But in 2015, he did what many thought impossible – he became the first opposition candidate in Nigeria’s democratic history to defeat an incumbent president. His re-election in 2019, by an even larger margin, underscored the trust Nigerians had in his leadership.
His administration ushered in a paradigm shift with a clear focus on infrastructure development, economic diversification, poverty alleviation, and security. Despite immense challenges, his commitment to addressing systemic issues in governance and economic management laid a solid foundation for Nigeria’s further development.
Throughout his tenure, and as captured in my edited volumes – Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy, 2015-2023 (five volumes), which he together with President Bola Tinubu and former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon jointly presented to the Nigerian public in January this year, Buhari demonstrated profound empathy for the underserved and a strong commitment to alleviating poverty. His administration launched the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), Africa’s largest social welfare initiative, providing direct support to the most vulnerable populations. Programmes like N-Power created jobs for young people, while Conditional Cash Transfers provided financial relief to the poorest families. Under Buhari, Nigeria became the first African country to establish a social security system of such magnitude.
Buhari’s leadership also catalyzed long-overdue transformation in infrastructure. Projects such as the Lagos-Ibadan railway and the Second Niger Bridge revitalized transportation and connectivity across Nigeria. These developments were complemented by extensive road rehabilitation and the modernization of airports and seaports, laying a foundation for future economic growth. When his accomplishments in infrastructure development as President are added to others infrastructure developments that he spearheaded when he was Petroleum Minister in the 1970s, Head of State in the 1980s, and Chairman of the PTF in the 1990s, there is no Nigerian leader, dead or alive, who has built Nigeria, infrastructure-wise, as Muhammadu Buhari.
A farmer at heart, Buhari prioritized agriculture as a pathway to self-sufficiency and economic resilience. Through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, smallholder farmers gained access to financing, which spurred increased local production of crops like rice. Rice production was at its peak in Nigeria during Buhari’s administration, with Nigeria ranking as the 13th largest producer of rice in the world in the 2022. Buhari’s initiative reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imports, bolstered foreign exchange earnings, and created jobs across agricultural value chains.
Healthcare saw significant improvements under Buhari’s administration as well. His government revitalized primary healthcare systems, bringing medical services closer to underserved communities. A crowning achievement was Nigeria’s removal from the list of nations with endemic wild polio in 2020, thanks to sustained immunization campaigns and health reforms.
Buhari recognized the importance of energy in development. His administration launched innovative solutions to address Nigeria’s power challenges. The Solar Power Naija project, aimed at electrifying five million homes, impacted over 25 million Nigerians. Through these efforts, clean and reliable energy reached communities that had lived without power for decades.
Internationally, Buhari positioned Nigeria as a key player in regional and global affairs. His foreign policy strengthened Nigeria’s leadership in West Africa and the broader African continent. Domestically, his administration’s fight against corruption was relentless, with a focus on recovering stolen funds, creating structural blockages against corruption like the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), and reforming governance structures. His belief in leading by example resonated in his lifestyle—simple, austere, and transparent.
Buhari’s leadership was not without its challenges. His administration inherited an economy weakened by falling oil prices and insecurity fueled by insurgency in the Northeast. Despite these challenges, he steadied the Nigerian economy. A closer look at his tenure reveals a far more positive economic outlook than many critics have portrayed.
For example, the pump price of petrol increased by just about N100 in eight years. The naira depreciated from N196 to N460, a difference of N264 in eight years. Electricity tariffs increased by between N32 to N47 per kWh during this period, but mobile call rates remained largely the same. Buhari’s government subsidized almost everything that could be subsidized – education, public health, electricity, petrol, and the exchange rate – making only minor increases in some services, in spite of economic recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic that closed down the Nigerian economy for over seven months. Buhari’s primary concern was how his policies would affect the standard of living of ordinary Nigerians. Governance, for him, centered on policies designed to best cater to the welfare of the Nigerian people. Nigeria’s population grew to its peak during his time as president; and so did Nigeria’s Human Development Index, reaching 0.548 points for the first time.
He was sensible enough not to float the naira or remove fuel and electricity subsidies, as recommended by the Bretton Woods institutions. He understood the consequences such actions would have on ordinary Nigerians. In a 2016 media interview, he warned about the dire consequences of floating the naira, going against strong advice from the IMF and World Bank. He refused to float the currency of a nation that was, and still is, heavily reliant on imports. This decision reflected what many would call emotional intelligence.
Critics, however, argued that his approach to governance was too methodical. Economists aligned with the Bretton Woods institutions and certain media outlets frequently criticized him as ignorant and incapable of governance. For eight years, he was subjected to name-calling, with labels such as “clueless” and “no emotional intelligence.” These were the narratives pushed by opposition politicians, Bretton Woods economists, and some media segments, attempting to discredit his leadership and even perpetuating the false notion of a “Jibril of Sudan.”
A large segment of the Nigerian political class and the media are forever sworn anti-Buhari elements not because they are blind to the numerous achievements of Muhammadu Buhari across five decades of public service and as president; no. They see very well, and they know very well. But they choose to live in falsehood and hateful propaganda because for all the times he was in office, Buhari did not “share the money”. Buhari did not dip his hands into the treasury to share money to politicians and journalists, and very many of them deeply hated him for that. Despite the barrage of criticism, Buhari remained undeterred and steadfastly protected the national patrimony. He stayed true to his approach and played the long game, trusting that time and consistent effort would yield results.
Beyond his public persona, Buhari is known for his simplicity and austere lifestyle. A devout Muslim, he has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to his religious and cultural values. His personal motto, “I am for everybody and I am for nobody,” reflects his aspiration to be a leader who serves all Nigerians, regardless of ethnic or religious divides. As stated in a common proverb, “An eagle does not catch flies.” Buhari’s life has been about pursuing significant national goals, sometimes at great personal and political cost; he never bothered about flies.
As he turns 82, Muhammadu Buhari stands not just as a former president, but as a living legend. He represents a class of uncommon global leaders who saw public service as a sacred trust, understanding that leadership is about sacrifice and the welfare of the citizens, not self-service.
Happy birthday, Baba!
***
Udu Yakubu, biographer and publisher. Can be reached at: udu.yakubu@gmail.com
