By
Emmanuel Gandu
PART II
CONTENT HIGHLIGS
1. Excerpts
2. Introduction
3. Buhari’s failures in governance :
(a) Debts and borrowing
(b) Insecurity
(c) Petroleum sector
– oil subsidy
– Dysfunctional refineries
– TAM corruption/scam
4. Buhari’s divisive negativity :
(a) Nepotism
(b) Religion
5. Buhari and controversies
– Naira re design
– Exclusive land for cattle fulani (Ruga, cattle colonies, etc)
– 53 suit cases scandal
– $2.8 billion missing NNPC money alegation
– PTF corruption
– Umaru Dikko in london crate
– school feeding programme
– Buhari voted for Niger Republic candidate (fulani) instead of Nigeria canditate (Igbo)
– Other scandals
6. Concluding remarks
EXCERPTS
“Nigeria under Muhammadu Buhari went through killings/loss of life and property with catastrophic consequences never ever experienced before, not even during the civil war. According to research findings, Nigeria ranked as the 3rd most terrorised country in the world – (World Terrorism Index 2020)”
“Regrettably, the endless killings by herdsmen across the country especially in Benue state, Plateau state, Southern Kaduna, Zamfara state, and other parts of the Middle Belt was genocidal. In Plateau state where over 200 people were massacred in their homes within less than 24 hours in mid May 2023 showed how uncocern Buhari was to the protection of the lives of other tribes.”
“Better give your land and stay alive or you die.” – Femi Adesina.
“Go settle with your neigbours.” – Buhari to Benue state governor Mr Ortom as he pleads to federal government to provide security against fulani herdsmen killings of Benue people.”
“If Buhari achieves his land-grabbing agenda for his Fulani, Nigeria will burn.” – Dr. Bitrus Pogu.
“According to Buhari’s minister of finance, Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed in July 2022, she wondered how the country was going to cope with a $6.72 trillion oil subsidy payment in 2023 with :
1. a 2023 projected revenue earnings of only #10 trillion.
2. a 2023 budget of #21.83 trillion.
3. a dwindling and uncertain oil output.
4. a $77 billion foreign debts.
5. a debt service to revenue ratio of between 80% to 100%.
6. a National unemployment projection rate of 41.6% (for 2023).”
“Energy experts lamented the Buhari government’s corruption in the spending of a whopping $26.5 billion on Turn Around Maintenance of the 3 refineries at Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna. Based on findings on new refinery construction around the world at the time, these experts suggested and emphasised to the Buhari government that this $26.5 billion could have conveniently built 3 new refineries in same locations of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, but the government went ahead to squander the funds through corruption.”
INTRODUCTION
This is a tribute to a fine soldier of the Nigerian Army, a former Head of state, a two term civilian president of Nigeria (2015 – 2023). It is an attempt to highlight the life and times of Muhamadu Buhari, it is a chronicle of the “BUHARI LEGACY.”
While it’s unethical to jubilate when a man is down, however, the wild celebration across the North especially in streets of cities of Kano, Katsina and Kaduna at the news of the death of the immediate past president of Nigeria is disheartening and regrettable. As announced by Garba Shehu, Muhammadu Buhari died in a London hospital on Sunday 13/7/2025. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Ameen.
BUHARI’S FAILURES IN GOVERNANCE.
(1) Debts and borrowing:
As at Q2 of 2022, Nigeria had a budget deficit of 11 Trillion, a revenue projection of 10 Trillion, with an uncomfortable Debt service to revenue ratio of 80.4%.
By Q1 of 2023 and according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) the unemployment rate was above 41%.
According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), Muhammadu Buhari inherited a Nigeria in 2015 with a lean loan of #12.12 Trillion debt profile. But by end of his presidency on 29th May, 2023 he bequeathed a country ladenned with an overwhelming debt profile of over #77 Trillion, 60% of youths unemployed, 22% inflation, 1.4% GDP growth all to the next government.
At the twilight of his presidency, Buhari’s insatiable penchant for borrowing beclowded his sense of prudence as he had sent a request to the National Assembly for approval of $800 million.
What baffled keen observers of the country’s debt profile was that $23 million dollars of this amount was to be used on consultancy service alone.
Going by the World Bank assessment, Nigeria was going to be spending 💯 of her revenue for debt servicing in 2023/2024.
Surely, Nigeria faced a bleak gloomy future.
2. SECURITY :
Muhammadu Buhari is a retired military General, fought as a commander in the Biafran Nigerian 30 months civil war of 1967 – 1970, served in International war peace keeping, a former GOC, a former Head of State, etc.
However, Nigeria under Buhari underwemt unprecedented Killings and loss of life and property with catastrophic consequences never experienced before.
According to the research findings by the World Terrorism Index, Nigeria was ranked as the 3rd most terrorised country in the world (2020)
Available statistics showed that during Buhari’s 8 years presidency, over 64,211 (those accounted for) people had been killed.
This figure is made up of over 27,311 from 2015 – 2018 and 36,800 between 2019 – May 2023.
The Killing spree reached unprecedented alarming proportion that opinion leaders had put the blame at the door step of Muhammadu Buhari.
The fiery Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto Matthew Hassan Kukah had been in the fore front of the agitations and demands for a safer and protected citizenry, and the sacredness of human life. But unfortunately, those in the government of Buhari viewed his concern as unnecessary and a notoriety for activism.
Regrettably, this endless Killing spree across the country especially in the Middle Belt where over 200 people were massacred in their villages and homes within 24 hours in plateau state in mid May 2023 showed how unconcern Buhari and his government was to the issue of protection of life and property.
These unprovoked Killings and burning down of entire towns and villages over these years which have remained unabated flooded Nigeria with the blood of the innocent.
It therefore remained to be seen whether posterity was going to be kind to Buhari for his action and inaction in aggravating the Killings or judge him square and fair.
3. OIL SECTOR MISMANAGEMENT
(a) Oil subsidy :
The oil subsidy regime had been characterised by endemic corruption, high level political exigency and secrecy.
Despite oil being Nigeria’s economic mainstay (95%) since the 1970’s, successive governments have failed to maintain the refining of crude oil in the country’s 3 refineries.
This seeming apathy had resulted in the abandoning of such critical assets thereby leading to endless importation. As a consequence, Nigeria was experiencing rising prices of premium spirit, diesel, gas, Jet A (Aviation) fuel, bitumen, kero, etc.
Government had to introduce subsidy in order to cushion the effect of high cost of goods and services.
Unfortunately, due to the rising price of oil in the International market coupled with the falling value of the #aira, this petroleum subsidy payment grew from #350 billion in 2019 to #450 billion in 2020, and got to #1.573 trillion in 2021.
What baffled keen energy observers of the sharp rising trend of this subsidy regime was the figures spent for 2022.
Data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) showed that for January and February 2022 alone, the cost for subsidy was #396.72 billion.
Further more, the federal legislatures approved another sum of #4 trillion to be spent on subsidy in 2022.
According to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed in July 2022, the country was expected to pay as much as $6.72 trillion for subsidy in 2023.
As things were, the questions to ask was, how will Nigeria cope with :
(i) a 2023 projected revenue earnings of only #10 trillion.
(ii) a 2023 budget of #21.83 trillion.
(iii) a dwindling uncertain oil output.
(iv) a #6.72 trillion oil subsidy that was still rising.
(v) a $77 billion foreign debt.
(vi) a debt service to revenue ratio of between 80% to 100% ?
(vii) a National unemployment rate of 41.6% (2023).
(b) DYSFUNCTIONAL REFINERIES and TAM Corruption/scam :
Corruption at a monumental level was on-going in Nigeria’s oil sector. Surprisingly, president Buhari who doubled as the Petroleum Minister happened to be also the Petroleum Minister during the Military government of General Olushegun Obasanjo. Therefore, this monumental corruption was rightly placed at Buhari’s door step.
This Buhari government reportedly spent #10.23 billion in June 2020 on the nation’s 3 refineries that ended up processing zero crude.
Again in 2021, the Buhari government approved $1.5 billion to repair just the Port Harcourt refinery. Meanwhile, Nigerians had kept groaning under the excrutiating and persistent scarcity.
Interestingly, SERAP in a suit number FHC/L/CS/806/2022 filed in the Federal High Court Lagos had sought an order of Mandamus to compel Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the spending of#1.48 trillion reportedly spent on 4 refineries between 2015 and 2020 as reflected in the NNPC Financial Statement.
In another major scandalous twist, petroleum industry experts lamented the whopping sum of$26.5 billion which the Federal Government of Buhari had so far spent on maintenance of the country’s joint loss – making 445,000 barrels per day capacity three (3) refineries of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.
Experts on energy and refinery construction had opined publicly that this $26.5 billion was capable of building three (3) brand new refineries of the same sizes as each of the ones in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna. This suggestion, according to these experts was arrived at based on the cost analysis of refinery projects currently going on across the world at that time :
(1) The Ecuador refinery being constructed at Manto is a 500,000 barrels per day capacity for $15 billion.
(2) Dangote refinery in Lagos Nigeria, a 650,000 barrels per day capacity being constructed for $15 billion.
(3) Kuwait was building the 615 barrels per day capacity AL Zour Oil Refinery for $16 billion.
The implication of these suggestions were that it would cost less than :
(a) $8 billion to build a new refinery in Port Harcourt – the same capacity like the existing one.
(b) $8 billion to build a new refinery in Warri just like the existing one with same refining capacity of 125,000 barrels per day.
(c) $8 billion to build a new refinery in Kaduna just like the existing one with same refining capacity of 110,000 barrels per day.
Going by the above experts analysis, the three (3) new refineries would therefore had cost only about $24 billion.
BUHARI’S DIVISIVE NEGATIVITY : NEPOTISM AND RELIGION
“I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” – Buhari (2015)
At his swearing in ceremony broadcast on 29th May, 2015 president Buhari made this popular statement to indicate a roadmap for justice, equity, fairness, and sense of belonging to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, and every form of differences.
However, sooner than he made this popular inaugural speech, the real Buhari unveiled his true colours.
At the US Institute of Peace (USIP) in July 22, 2015 Buhari referred to the Igbo South East as a people who gave him only 5%, hence “5% cannot be treated the same way as those who gave me 95% votes.”
According to Femi Adesina in defense of Buhari’s ‘gaffe’, “Buhari justified sidelining Igbos, and ruling Nigeria based on 97 – 5% division.”
As important and as controversial as it was, Buhari’s statement elicited condemnation across Nigeria.
Available facts and statistical data analysis indicated that this statement had guided and continued to define Buhari’s nepotic governance policies.
He not only sidelined the Igbo South East but also other areas of the Middle Belt from constructive engagement and appointment into National Security, economy, and other critical areas of democratic governance.
As obviously as can be expected, Buhari’s cabinet over the 8 years failed to reflect the ethnic, tribal and religious balance of Nigeria.
Yet in June 2021, Buhari in an Arise TV interview called the Igbo South East as “a dot in the middle”, meaning that even if the Igbos want to exit Nigeria, they will have no access to anywhere.
As if that wasn’t done yet, Buhari tweeted about the Igbo agitations personified by IPOB that – “We will treat them in the language that they understand.” “We will organise the police and the Military to pursue them.”
This did not go down well with Twitter as the social media company deleted Buhari’s tweet, saying it contained offensive comments believed to be war threat against the Igbos.
In reaction, Buhari slapped a ban on Twitter operation in Nigeria, thereby causing Nigeria to lose billions of dollars in business and investment, employment opportunities, International diplomacy, etc.
Regrettably, Buhari’s continuos pursuit of an agenda sympathetic to the Muslim/ Fulani/Hausa North where infrastructure and appointments were skewed in their favour alone haf put a knife on the things that held Nigerians together and we’ve fallen apart.
BUHARI’S CONTROVERSIES / SCANDALS
1. NAIRA RE DESIGN :
The bungled #aira re design policy of 2022 exposed Nigerians to untold hardship due to the short exchange period, absence of the new notes, and long queues in banks. This controversial policy came during the Christmas/end of year festivities, and at an election period.
It became a source of intense confrontation between Buhari and the politicians that culminated into litigation leading all the way to the apex court as the Supreme Court decided in favour of the leading governors of Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State, Yahaya bello of Kogi state, Matawalle of Zamfara state, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state.
Buhari refused to expressly direct the Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele to comply with the Supreme Court judgement.
While this imbroglio lasted, Governor El Rufai made a counter broadcast in the evening of the same day of President Muhammadu Buhari’s morning broadcast where he (El Rufai) directed the people to disregard the continuos use of only the newly re designed naira notes.
2. EXCLUSIVE LAND FOR CATTLE FULANI :
Right from the time he became president in 2015, Buhari had set out at the early months of his 8 years presidency to carve out and confiscate people’s land for the purposes of implementing grazing reserves exclusively for the Fulani heardsmen to rear their own cattle.
It was all about cows.
From Open Grazing to Fulani Cattle Settlement. From Cattle Settlement to Cattle Colony. From Cattle Colony to RUGA. From RUGA to Grazing Routes. From Grazing Routes to Grazing Reserves. From Grazing Reserved to National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP). From Nationa Livestock Transformation Plan to Integrated Farm Estates (IFE).
This controversial policy met with stiff opposition from Nigerians across the country especially from the Middle Belt, the South West, South East, and South South.
Things got messy when president Buhari announced plans to establish Integrated Farm Estates (IFE) across all the 109 Senatorial Zones of the country, the opposition was spear headed by the National President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) Dr. Bitrus Pogu. Dr. Pogu had spoken out that “if Buhari achieves his land-grabbing agenda for his Fulani, Nigeria will burn.”
Buhari was adamant in his land grabbing policy as the administration refused to accept and acknowledge the fact that a lot of fulani herders roaming the streets, towns, villages, the local hinterland, and forests of our country were not Nigerians. Buhari was seen to be more interested in the welfare of these foreign fulani herders and militias than the Nigerian tribes.
Little wonder, Nigerians then and even now alledged that the Buhari administration’s cattle policies were just a ploy and plan to placate the foreign fulani they brought into Nigeria for the purpose of prosecuting and winning the 2015 elections.
Unfortunately, since the fulani herders from foreign countries entered into Nigeria, Nigerians have never known peace as the killing spree by these herders never abated.
If anything, indegenous Nigerians in their ancestral lands are being killed like wild animals for the game by these invading fulani militia land-grabbers.
At the peak of the killings of the Benue people by the fulani herders, Buhari never minced words in turning his back on the governor of Benue state, Mr. Ortom who went to Aso Rock to plead for Buhari’s intervention. A heartless Buhari told Ortom to “Go settle with your neighbours.”
Still in the heartless mentality of his master, Femi Adesina told Benue people to “Better give your land and stay alive or you all die.”
Lamentably, Muhammadu Buhari had put a knife on the very fabric of the Nigerian society and we’ve fallen apart.
3. WHISTLE BLOWER POLICY :
Approved by the Federal Executive Council in December 2016, this policy was meant to encourage Nigerians to willingly provide government with information about people involved in shady and undercover financial transactions.
In built in the policy was a financial rewards in staggered categories and percentages, concealment of the identity of the whistle blower, and etc.
However, this policy could not celebrate its third anniversary before it died a natural death due to :
(a) government corrupt officials.
(b) government defaulted on the terms and conditions to the whistle blowers.
(c) conflict of interest between EFCC, and other anti corruption agencies.
(d) government interference on the execution of the policy because of interest in certain cases.
(e) Buhari’s failure to be firm, decisive, and hold officials accountable because of the exigency of political patronage.
4. SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME
This school feeding was a scam because government was alleged to have used it as a conduit pipe to channel funds to the ruling APC.
Reports had it that funds were allocated for school feeding even during the COVD 19 lockdown.
It remains to be justified how alleged N228 billion was spent on school feeding even at a period schools had remained closed during COVID 19.
5. BUHARI VOTED FOR NIGER REPUBLIC AND NOT NIGERIA
For a Buhari as Head of State in 1985 to have (alleged) voted for Ide Oumorou, a Fulani from Niger Republic as Secretary General of OAU and not for Peter Onu an Igbo man from Nigeria smacks of his blatant penchant for affinity to his Fulani heritage as against paying allegiance to Nigeria, the country he was its Head of State.
Buhari is not yet done with his allegiance to Niger Republic. On Tuesday 23/5/2023, six days to his exit as president, he warned his would be enemies that Niger Republic will defend him in the event of any attack on him after leaving office.
6. BOKO HARAM NAMES BUHARI AS MEDIATOR REPRESENTATIVE
In 2012, Islamic terrorists Boko Haram picked Buhari to represent them in mediative talks with the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the talks to be held in Saudi Arabia.
7. PTF SCANDALS UNDER BUHARI’S WATCH
Muhammadu Buhari was appointed Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) by then Head of State General Sani Abacha in 1994 at its creation, a position he held until 1999 when president Olushegun Obasanjo disbanded the outfit.
According to Law Mefor in his report in ‘Point Blank News’ of December 14, 2014, controversial scandals were uncovered in the PTF operations :
(a) Buhari was accused of concentrating 70% of PTF projects in the Hausa North leaving the South South, South East, South West, and parts of the Middle Belt to struggle for a paltry 30% .
(b) Buhari’s nepotic choice of consultants who continiuosly looted the PTF funds. This was uncovered by independent investigative Committees.
* Law Metor is a forensic psychologist and journalist.
8. 53 SUIT CASES SCANDAL OF 1984
During that years currency redesign, nobody was allowed to take any money outside Nigeria’s borders. But it was reported that the Emir of Gwandu allegedly successfully smuggled out 53 suit cases of old Naira notes to change before it becomes worthless.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as Customs Officer on duty wanted to confiscate the contents and reported to the military government.
However, the Emir whose son was Major Mustapha Jokolo and ADC to Head of State General Buhari intervened. This led to series of unconfirmed allegations and counter allegations as to what happened to the suit cases.
One thing was certain, Buhari’s credibility and that of his government suffered a setback.
9. $ 2.8 BILLION MISSING NNPC MONEY
Allegation of NNPC missing money was during the tenure of Buhari as Petroleum Minister in 1977.
This revelation necessitated then Head of State General Olushegun Obasanjo to set up a crude oil sales tribunal in 1977 to investigate the operations of the Nigerian National Oil Company (NNOC) which metamorphosed into NNPC same year.
The tribunal discovered that the NNOC did not actually find buyers for its own share of its entitled 182.95 million barrels of oil proceeds thereby losing a potential income of $2.8 billion dollars.
10. UMARU DIKKO IN CRATE
Erstwhile Minister of the federation Alhaji Umaru Dikko was already put in a crate in London to be drugged and flown in a Nigerian Airways Boeing 707 to Nigeria to answer corruption charges.
This botched kidnap was in July 1984 when Muhammadu Buhari was Head of State.
11. OCCUPYING CHADIAN FORCES FLUSHED OUT BY BUHARI IN 1983
Tchadian soldiers led by then Chief of Army Staff Idriss Deby invaded and occupied 19 Nigerian Islands on the Lake Chad in April 1983. Muhammadu Buhari as then GOC Jos was said to have acted promptly to flush out the oçcupying forces without waiting for orders from Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari, president and commander in chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Muhammadu Buhari inherited a Nigeria in 2015 with a total foreign loan of # 12.12 trillion debt profile.
But by the end of his presidency on 29th May, 2023 he bequeathed an overwhelming battered country :
* #77 trillion debt profile.
* 60% of youth unemployment.
* 22% Inflation.
* 1.4% GDP growth rate.
* 41% National unemployment rate.
• Unprecedented death of people highest than experienced in any African country ever, even worst than the infamous Rwandan genocide of which many of the perpetrators were tried at the International Criminal Court.
* If the assessment of the World Bank was anything to go by, Nigeria was to be spending 100% of her revenue for debt services in 2023/2024.
Surely, Nigeria faces a bleak and gloomy future.
Peace 🙏
16/7/2025
