Buhari’s Legacy: A One-Year Remembrance and the Politics of National Memory
The Report
As reported by Nigerian Tribune, a one-year remembrance event for former President Muhammadu Buhari was held in Abuja on Monday, drawing a gathering of eminent Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima. The event featured tributes from former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, and other dignitaries.
President Tinubu, in his remarks, described Buhari as a leader Nigerians will not forget, recalling their shared journey in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He stated that the best way to honour Buhari is to “carry forward the inheritance he left us: honesty, simplicity, and self-discipline.” General Gowon countered narratives that Buhari favoured only the North during his eight-year tenure, asserting that he “ensured that every state and every part of the country was treated fairly and equally.” Gowon also highlighted Buhari’s support for Tinubu’s 2023 presidential bid as a reciprocal gesture for Tinubu’s earlier backing of Buhari in 2014.
“He gave everything he had to this country, and he gave it without reservation. He served with courage. He served with conviction and with a patriotism that never asked what the nation could return to him.” — President Bola Tinubu, as delivered by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Nigeria Time News Analysis
From a Nigerian governance perspective, the one-year remembrance of Muhammadu Buhari is not merely a ceremonial event but a deliberate act of political memory-shaping. The gathering, led by the current administration, signals an effort to consolidate a specific narrative around Buhari’s legacy—one that emphasises integrity, national unity, and selfless service. This is particularly significant given the deeply polarised assessments of his tenure, which saw both praise for infrastructure projects (e.g., the Lagos-Ibadan railway, Second Niger Bridge) and sharp criticism over economic stagnation, security failures, and rising debt.
The presence of President Tinubu, represented by his deputy, underscores the strategic importance of this narrative for the ruling APC. By framing Buhari as a selfless nation-builder, the administration implicitly reinforces its own legitimacy as the inheritor of that legacy. General Gowon’s explicit rebuttal of the “North-only” bias claim is a direct intervention in a persistent regional grievance, particularly from southern and minority ethnic groups who felt marginalised during Buhari’s tenure. This is not just historical revisionism; it is a political tool aimed at soothing ongoing tensions ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Looking at the broader ECOWAS implications, Buhari’s legacy as a former military ruler who transitioned to a democratically elected president is a rare model in a region where military coups have resurfaced in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea. The remembrance event, by celebrating his “transformation into a democrat,” serves as a subtle rebuke to the current wave of unconstitutional changes of government in West Africa. It reinforces Nigeria’s traditional role as a stabilising force and a pro-democracy advocate within the region, even as domestic challenges persist.
For the Nigerian diaspora, the event offers a curated version of Buhari’s legacy that may resonate differently. Many diaspora Nigerians, particularly those who left during the economic downturns of the 1980s and 1990s, may view Buhari’s military regime (1983–1985) with suspicion due to its human rights record. However, his later democratic tenure, despite its flaws, is often seen through the lens of infrastructure development and anti-corruption rhetoric. The remembrance provides a platform for diaspora media and community leaders to engage with a more sanitised narrative, potentially influencing remittance-driven investments and political engagement.
Regional Context
Historically, the one-year remembrance of a former Nigerian president is a relatively recent tradition, reflecting the country’s evolving political culture. The event also highlights the enduring influence of the “old guard” of Nigerian politics—figures like General Gowon (now 90) and Boss Mustapha—who continue to shape public discourse. This is in stark contrast to the growing youth-led movements, such as the #EndSARS protests, which demand accountability and systemic change. The juxtaposition of these two political generations—one rooted in military-era patronage and the other in digital-age activism—remains a defining tension in Nigerian governance.
Economically, the event’s focus on Buhari’s “simplicity” and “self-discipline” is a pointed contrast to the current administration’s struggles with inflation, fuel subsidy removal, and currency devaluation. By invoking Buhari’s austerity, the Tinubu administration may be attempting to frame its own painful economic reforms as a continuation of a virtuous tradition, rather than a departure from it.
Original Reporting By:
Nigerian Tribune