Leadership is rarely black and white. It is often a complex tapestry of conviction, compromise, strength, and human frailty.
As former President Muhammadu Buhari departed this world yesterday, I find myself reflecting on the man behind the title—and the personal impressions formed over decades of observing his journey from a distance and, at times, up close.
In this edition of The Lens, I offer a tribute to a figure who inspired my early idealism, challenged my later expectations, and ultimately left a legacy that will be debated for years to come. Whether you admired or opposed him, Buhari was a consequential figure in Nigeria’s post-independence history
Advertisement
To order your copy, send a WhatsApp message to +1 317 665 2180
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has been buried. His life’s mission—however defined—is complete, and he journeys now to account for his deeds before his Maker.
Buhari is a man I admired from my university days. As a young man, I was drawn to the stories of his discipline, frugality, and unyielding belief in Nigeria. He stood apart from many of his peers—men he often considered complicit in the decline of our nation. With them, there was little tolerance for compromise.
History will remember Buhari for his spartan lifestyle, his honesty of purpose, and his deep, if often misunderstood, patriotism. Say what you may, he was not a man of shady deals. Those close to him may have exploited his simplicity—or what some would call naivety—for personal gain, but Buhari himself was never known to enrich himself at the expense of the state. He remained above the fray of self-interest, even as he became entangled in the contradictions of Nigerian politics.
His personal integrity was as firm as his tall, ramrod-straight frame. Age may have slowed him, but it never bent him. And yet, beneath the rigid exterior was a man deeply affected by his past—especially the label of “dictator” that followed him after his first stint in power. That reputation left a scar on his psyche, shaping his leadership style the second time around. It made him cautious, even hesitant, in dealing with the entrenched forces around him—forces that, at times, needed firm resistance but instead met a more contemplative, conflicted Buhari.
I witnessed this up close. I saw the burden he carried. He often wondered aloud why anyone would need to steal so much in a single lifetime. His disdain for corruption was genuine. Even when political necessity forced him into alliances with the very people he distrusted, it was never comfortable. I recall two particular moments—one in Minna, the other in London—where I saw him visibly ill at ease, clasping his hands, staring into space with a look that seemed to ask: How did I end up here?
To rise to power in Nigeria often means bowing to certain ‘human gods.’ Buhari did so, reluctantly. He paid that price, and though he achieved his goal, he never quite forgave himself for the compromises it required. Ironically, the same qualities that led to his removal as military Head of State—his rigidity, his idealism—would become limiting factors during his presidency.
And yet, his legacy remains one of service. From his days as a fearless soldier, to governor of the old North-East State, GOC, Minister of Petroleum, Head of State, PTF Chairman, and ultimately President, Buhari served his country with a clear sense of duty. He had flaws—serious ones, even—but who among us does not?
Posterity, I believe, will judge him more kindly than those who today criticize or mock him. Time has a way of clarifying intent, of separating the noise from the essence.
We will miss him—not just the leader, but the man behind the title. His wry smile, his mischievous sighs, and his biting sense of humor. Though reserved among strangers, he could be warm and entertaining among friends, sharing stories and jokes from decades of service. In those moments, you didn’t want to leave his side.
Muhammadu Buhari leaves behind a mixed legacy, as all leaders do. But he also leaves behind a record of personal integrity and an unwavering love for Nigeria. And for that, history will not forget him.
- Senator Babafemi Ojudu was Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Muhammadu Buhari
