By Isah Aliyu Chiroma
“The import of our deliberation so far is that our country has hardly ever had rulers who want for the people what they single mindedly crave for themselves. And this is the case because the rulers do not know the people they rule”.
_Niyi Osundare
Everything that has a beginning, must have an end, likewise President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency. Eight years of unwavering leadership, with both joyous and uneasy periods, have passed. The events of those years will be explained, and the validity of that explanation will only be called into question if we pause to consider the factors that made up or shaped our past. When considering the future, we are moving toward, this perception that we all share will be quite important. This will force us to ask the crucial question: What was it, after all, that would determine our path to greatness in the near future?
The battle started in 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari was elected as the president in the general election. When he took power at that time, the country was in a difficult situation due to extensive insecurity, Boko haram insurgent activity, and, most importantly, corruption in numerous economic areas. It will be a very difficult transition for the president as well as the public to take office in those circumstances. We urgently needed someone to dry our sorrows, bring about social harmony, and foster a compassionate environment.
Today, we are aware that being a leader is not a simple job, and everyone who accepts the position is aware that he will need to take up tasks and evaluated. We must accept that President Muhammadu Buhari has chosen his own course. It is clear that he has contributed greatly to attaining the desired agenda by implementing the SEA (Security, Economy and Anti-corruption) agenda. From 2015 to 2022, military spending has increased from roughly N900BN to N2.3TRN. 16 warships and 12 super Tucano jets were purchased for the Nigerian Navy.
The number of deaths attributable to Boko Haram decreased by 92% from 2,131 in 2015 to 178 in 2021, according to the global trend terrorism index 2022. This has demonstrated that effective counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram are a major factor in the decline in terrorism-related fatalities in sub-Saharan Africa. Since President Muhammadu Buhari took office in 2015, the Nigerian Air Force has received 38 brand-new aircraft to combat insecurity. As a result, the platforms of the Nigerian Air Force are now more serviceable than they were in 2015—over 70% as of January 2023. Similar to the Nigerian Navy, the international marine bureau claimed that in 2021, piracy attacks in Nigerian seas were at their lowest level in 27 years. The Nigerian Navy now has acquired more than 400 new platforms since 2015.
700 brand-new armored personnel carriers have beeb purchased by the Nigerian military. Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Lake Sanity, and Operation Desert Sanity in the North East are a few of the significant security operations that are conducted nationally. Operation Hadarin Daji and Operation Sharan Daji were conducted in the North West. In North Central, Operation Whirl Stroke and Operation Safe Haven were carried out. Operation Delta State and Operation Dakatar Da Barawo were both conducted in the South South, this was to bring security to those regions. In 2019, President Buhari signed a bill creating the police trust fund into law, improving funding for the Nigerian Police force. The Nigerian Police force was not left behind. Additionally, it was authorized to hire 40,000 new police officers, which is still ongoing. The NPF also launched a new national command and control center in 2019.
A successful national infrastructure revival is a key component of efforts to revive the economy. Increasing from 18BN in 2015 to N215N in 2023, infrastructure funding. The largest and most comprehensive federal infrastructure program since Nigeria’s independence has resulted from this. From roadways for easy mobility to dry ports, modern airport terminals, and rail transportation. The administration has chosen a new course in the energy sector by using solar energy to supply clean, renewable energy to some states and infrastructures.
Treasure Single Account was introduced in 2012 to curb corruption, but it wasn’t successful until 2015. More than 90% of all government ministries, departments, and organizations now use the TSA system. As a result, the IPPIS is extended to include the military forces in addition to federal universities and other academic institutions. The EFCC has successfully recovered considerable assets and brought some high-ranking government officials to justice.
This then is the presidency under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch. A time filled with great expectations, of hope and better future. Although time has altered our hearts in some ways, nothing has been able to completely replicate our own. It will be so clear that something appears more black like darkness even though the general objective seems to be to make it white even while the black stains remain. To a few, many of us feel disappointed by President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, because he has shattered the sociological and sentimental image we had of him before he entered the political market. So that my readers would comprehend my assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership, let me to be explicit. His leadership has been shaped by many unexpected events, but in my opinion, he was unable to live up to our great expectations.
Because people are imprisoned in history and history is trapped in them, it has now become history, a history that may teach us a lot. A new administration will take office in a few days, which will signal the start of new history. President Muhammadu Buhari, in my opinion, has established a new pace that can be built upon and, most importantly, that will change the situation and live up to our expectations. Nigeria will only be great if we have leaders who are willing to serve, who prioritize the needs of the populace and offer solutions to their problems. This would greatly contribute to the development of a new, renewed hope for Nigeria.
What is the best way to miss a leader than to send him our best wishes.
