Now That Buhari Is Dead, What Will Nigerians Remember Him For?

Now that former President Muhammadu Buhari has passed on, Nigeria stands at yet another juncture of national reflection. As the flags fly at half-mast and tributes pour in from political allies and institutions, a deeper question demands attention, not just how he died, but how he led. What will Nigerians really remember Muhammadu Buhari for? And more importantly, how should history judge his time in power?

For some, Buhari was more than just a former military general or elected president; he was a symbol of hope, twice rejected at the ballot, and finally embraced in 2015 as the man who would “fight corruption, crush Boko Haram, and fix the economy.” He rode into office with the aura of a disciplined soldier and the air of a national redeemer. Eight years later, and now in death, the reality of his legacy feels far more complicated.

Let’s be honest, Buhari’s years in Aso Rock were, for many Nigerians, marked more by frustration than fulfilment. His much-touted war against corruption quickly drew accusations of hypocrisy. Yes, the EFCC “recovered” billions in looted funds, and yes, some high-profile arrests made headlines. But the fight often seemed one-sided, targeting opposition members while sparing loyalists. Nigerians watched as ministers and party figures with allegations hanging over their heads walked freely under his government. To some, it wasn’t a war on corruption; it was a war on selected enemies.

Then there was the issue of security, perhaps the greatest disappointment of his administration. Buhari, a former general, promised to end Boko Haram in months. And to be fair, the insurgents were pushed out of major territories under his command. But as Boko Haram faded in one region, banditry exploded in others. Mass abductions, attacks on schools, violent herdsmen, and a terrifying surge in kidnapping-for-ransom became the new normal. Nigerians began to whisper a painful irony: they were safer before the man who promised security came into office.

On the economic front, Buhari’s tenure was a storm of inflation, two recessions, and currency crises. Prices of basic food items doubled or tripled, the naira plummeted, and unemployment skyrocketed. The middle class shrunk, and poverty deepened. Even policies like the border closure, meant to boost local production, ended up hurting small businesses and traders. For many, the so-called gains of self-sufficiency felt like forced suffering. His foreign exchange policy was confusing, and despite efforts like the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, millions felt locked out of any meaningful economic opportunity.

And yet, it wasn’t all doom.

One must admit that under Buhari, Nigeria witnessed some infrastructure growth. He completed projects long abandoned by past governments, most notably the Second Niger Bridge, a symbol of long-delayed equity for the Southeast. Rail lines connecting cities like Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan were completed. Several highways were reconstructed. Power sector reforms and social intervention programmes like N-Power, School Feeding, and TraderMoni gave hope to segments of the population, albeit inconsistently. These projects will outlive him and may be among the few tangible legacies tied to his name.

But even with these achievements, what most Nigerians will never forget is how Buhari seemed increasingly aloof and distant. He rarely addressed the nation directly during times of crisis. During the EndSARS protests, one of the most defining youth-led movements in Nigeria’s history, his response was slow, cold, and ultimately dismissive. The tragic shooting at Lekki Toll Gate happened on his watch, and till his death, many believed he never truly showed empathy for the lives lost or the voices raised.

His style of leadership, some say ‘clannish’, others call it ‘nepotistic’, left many ethnic groups feeling alienated. Appointments into key offices often favoured the North, particularly his home region, and this undermined the sense of national balance and unity. His infamous “97% vs 5%” comment, referring to regions that didn’t vote for him, will go down as one of the most divisive remarks by any Nigerian president.

So now, as Muhammadu Buhari exits not just the stage but the world, Nigeria is left with the weight of his legacy. A man who came with promises but departed with mixed reviews. Some will mourn him as a disciplined leader who meant well but was surrounded by weak handlers. Others will remember him as a missed opportunity, a leader who had the mandate and the goodwill, but failed to match them with bold, people-centered results.

Ultimately, Nigerians will remember Buhari for the contradictions he embodied. A man of personal frugality who presided over a government many saw as bloated and inefficient. A general who promised safety but left behind a more dangerous country. A president who promised change, but whose biggest legacy may be in how many Nigerians now yearn for change again.

And that is perhaps the clearest verdict: history will remember Buhari, but not necessarily for what he promised. Rather, for what he could have been.