Why Nigerians Would Not Forget Buhari Anytime Soon

Muhammadu Buhari may be gone, but his time in power still hangs on like a shadow over Nigeria and Nigerians. Not because of fond memories or national achievements but because the weight of his leadership is still being felt in people’s lives, wallets, and conversations.

Many Nigerians didn’t mourn him. Some felt relief. And that alone says something about the kind of legacy he left behind.

From Daura to Aso Rock, then to silence

Buhari’s journey from a quiet town in Daura to Nigeria’s highest office spanned decades. He was first a military ruler, then later returned as a civilian president. But for a man who held power for over ten years in total, his time in office left more questions than answers.

His rule was marked by silence in moments when Nigerians needed leadership the most. Crises came and went, fuel hikes, killings, economic hardship, insecurity and often, all the people got was a press statement. No real comfort. No real plan.

The health trips that said it all

While ordinary Nigerians struggled to afford Panadol in under-equipped hospitals, Buhari spent over 225 days abroad receiving treatment. 

He had access to the best care in London, while his government repeatedly failed to fix the local health system even after budgeting over ₦33 billion for the State House clinic.

It was a clear message, this government wasn’t for everyone. Nigerians watched their president disappear for months, only to reappear without answers.

The weight of 10 million votes

To some in the North, Buhari was a symbol. A man they believed stood for their interests. He had a steady voting bloc of nearly 10 million people who followed him loyally, election after election. 

But that loyalty didn’t always translate to better lives. Poverty deepened in many of the regions that supported him. Jobs didn’t come. 

Security got worse. Now, as 2027 approaches, the big question is: who will inherit those votes? Will anyone even command that kind of blind support again? Or has the spell finally broken?

Buhari is a president of missed moments

Buhari came to power on promises of fighting corruption, fixing insecurity, and reviving the economy. What happened?

Corruption didn’t go away. In fact some argue it only got smarter. Under his watch, officials were accused of embezzling billions, and little came from the cases. Banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism became everyday headlines. Inflation skyrocketed, food prices doubled, and the naira weakened.

And then there was #EndSARS, a moment that defined how detached his government was from the people. Instead of listening to the youth, they were met with force.

Let’s be honest, Buhari’s passing didn’t cause national mourning. For many, it was a chance to reflect on how much they lost under his watch.

 People remembered the fuel queues, the silence during mass killings, the promises that faded into excuses.

Still, no one can deny he changed the course of Nigeria, just not in the way he had promised.

Why Buhari would not be forgotten

Nigerians won’t forget Buhari because they are still living with the effects of his decisions. His policies, his absence, his silence, they shaped the country’s economy, its security, its politics.

He left behind a vacuum in the North, uncertainty in national politics, and a bitter taste in the mouths of those who once believed in him.

Some leaders are remembered for their greatness. Others are remembered because the people are still picking up the pieces they left behind.

Buhari belongs in the second group. And that’s why Nigerians won’t forget him anytime soon.