Our Reporter, Abuja
Following the death of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in London on Sunday, prominent Nigerian lawyer and activist Inibehe Effiong has taken to his X handle to deliver a scathing critique of Buhari’s legacy, calling for introspection among Nigeria’s political class.
Effiong’s post, emphasized the missed opportunities during Buhari’s eight-year presidency and highlighted systemic failures in Nigeria’s governance.
In his post, Effiong stated, “The death of former President Buhari in London should offer the Nigerian political class another opportunity for sobriety and circumspection.”
He criticized Buhari for squandering the chance to provide selfless leadership, asserting that despite having “all the power and resources to build a standard hospital in Nigeria that would have catered for his medical needs,” Buhari failed to do so, opting instead for medical treatment abroad. This, Effiong argued, is emblematic of a broader trend among Nigerian leaders who “destroy our country while enjoying their best lives abroad.”
Effiong, a human rights acrivist and good governance advocate, accused Buhari of governing with a “military attitude” despite campaigning as a “reformed democrat” in 2015.
He described Buhari’s tenure as marked by a transformation into a “civilian dictator and a serial desecrator of human rights and democratic norms.” Effiong pointed to the economic hardships, insecurity, and alleged human rights abuses that plagued Buhari’s presidency from 2015 to 2023, noting that “millions of Nigerians whose lives and sources of livelihood were destroyed by his ungodly and tyrannical actions” have a right to express their grievances.
He also addressed the cultural tendency to eulogize deceased leaders, stating, “Politicians who make the lives of Nigerians miserable during their lifetime cannot be venerated as saints in death. A culture that allows people to blatantly lie about the dead cannot bring progress and prosperity.”
While acknowledging Buhari’s role as a family man, Effiong was unequivocal in his assessment of the former president’s legacy, calling him a “colossal disaster” for many Nigerians.
Effiong’s remarks come in the wake of Buhari’s death at the age of 82 in a London hospital, where he had been receiving medical treatment. The former president, who led Nigeria as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985 and as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, was a polarizing figure.
His administration faced criticism for economic mismanagement, rising insecurity, and allegations of authoritarianism, despite initial public support for his anti-corruption stance.
The activist concluded with a call for reflection among Nigeria’s current leaders, warning that “those currently in power who are making lives miserable for us will realize that they will also face their eternal judgments.”
He lamented the recurring pattern of Nigerian leaders seeking medical care and dying abroad, only to have their remains returned to a “Nigeria that they destroyed.”
Effiong’s post has ignited a mix of reactions on X, with some users praising his candidness and others defending Buhari’s contributions. The statement underscores ongoing debates about leadership, accountability, and the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, which has long been a point of contention due to its reliance on foreign medical facilities for the elite.
