Latest news with #EndSARS
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Muhammadu Buhari: A legacy of 'praise and pain'
Muhammadu Buhari'slegacy in Nigeriais likely to be mixed. He will be remembered for trying to foster integrity in the country and for leadership that was deeply flawed. "From his military era to his two-term civilian presidency, he leaves behind a legacy filled with both praise and pain. We must reflect on justice and accountability," Sheriff Ansu, a digital content creator, said. Human rights activists say that he never let go of his autocratic tendencies. "Buhari was an ethnic bigot. He had contempt for the rule of law; he disobeyed court orders. He engaged in enforced disappearances of critics," Omoyele Sowore, an activist based in the Nigerian capital Abuja, told DW. "In 2015, he presided over the mass murder of over 300 Shiites in Zaria. Young Nigerians protesting police brutality were gunned down in October 2020 by soldiers directed by Buhari. That is unforgettable and unforgivable," Sowore said. The protests were part of a movement dubbed #EndSARS, named after a special police unit that for years was accused of racketeering, torture and murder. The Buhari government violently crushed the movement. Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan at the polls in 2015, in what was judged to be Nigeria's fairest general election to date. Not everyone liked having a former military general at the country's helm. Many, nevertheless, hoped he would crack down on armed groups. "He is one man who believed in making Nigeria the best place to live on Earth. He tried his best to bring Nigerians together as military ruler and a democratically elected leader," Yusuf Dantalle, chairman of Nigeria's Inter Party Advisory Council, told DW. "That does not mean he was perfect. He had his flaws like any other human being." "What stands out is that his presidency triggered national conversations around leadership accountability, youth inclusion and restructuring of systems to entrench democracy," Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, a media entrepreneur told DW. Many had expected Buhari's tenure as a democratically elected leader to be characterized by the kind of discipline, order and stability of a military veteran. Buhari described himself as a "converted democrat" when he swapped his military uniform for kaftans and prayer caps. "I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody," was his constant refrain to both supporters and critics. But Buhari's lackluster leadership often made headlines and earned him the moniker "Baba Go Slow." It took him six months to name his ministers in 2015 and the oil-dependent economy was hobbled by low crude prices. Buhari earned a devoted following for his brand of anti-corruption conviction politics. But his crackdowns on corruption also ran into criticism and failed to yield high-profile convictions. He retained his popularity in the country's poor and largely Muslim north, where he was from and where voters propelled him to his second term in 2019, That came despite a term that was blighted by Nigeria's first recession in a generation, attacks on oilfields by militants. Buhari was seen to repeatedly ignore advice from the International Monetary Fund to devalue the Nigerian naira. Instead he kept the currency artificially high — the same failed approach he had used as a military ruler in the 1980s. In 2022, the production of oil — by far Nigeria's greatest export — fell to its lowest level in more than two decades due to theft in the Niger Delta. Frail health often interfered with Buhari's tenure as president. He made frequent trips to hospitals abroad for an undisclosed illness. In 2017, rumors of his death circulated after he disappeared from the public eye for 51 days, reportedly to undergo treatment. Buhari's death at a London health facility reminded many Nigerian citizens of his medical trips and the controversy these had triggered. Buhari, an ethnic Fulani and devout Muslim, was born on December 17, 1942, in Nigeria's northern Katsina state. He joined the army at 20 and rose quickly through the ranks, becoming an officer and the military governor of the north-east. In 1976, the country's then military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Buhari as petroleum and energy minister. The position put him in charge of the newly founded National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Despite his new key role at one of Africa's largest oil producers, Buhari returned to the army as a commander, rejoining its Supreme Military Council, and leading several units. In 2003, he ran as the presidential candidate for the All Nigeria's Peoples Party. His defeat was followed by similarly unsuccessful bids in 2007 and 2011. In 2015, Buhari finally won the presidency with 54% of the vote. He had promised to fight rampant corruption and defeat the Islamist terrorist Boko Haram militia. "The symbolic thing about his victory is the fact that he is considered one of Nigeria's most incorruptible leaders. That is significant in a country where the population does not believe people in important positions deserve such a reputation," Manji Cheto, the vice president of Teneo Intelligence, said at the time. On December 31, 1983, when General Ibrahim Babangida and other members of the military overthrew elected President Shehu Shagari, Buhari was appointed to chair Nigeria's Supreme Military Council. He went on to suspend the constitution, ban all political parties, and clamp down on corruption — making good on his threat at the time to jail the corrupt "without the nonsense of judicial proceedings." Under Buhari's "war on indiscipline" nearly 500 people were jailed for corruption and wasting taxpayers' money. Public servants were reportedly made to genuflect for coming late to work. Buhari had people executed, was intolerant of criticism and restricted press freedom. Nobellaureate Wole Soyinka said Nigerians felt they were living under an "iron-fisted, rigid rule and governance that spreads fear." Ironically, Buhari's first reign ended as it started: in a coup staged by General Babangida in August 1985. In the 2022-2023 presidential race, Buhari endorsed Bola Tinubu who had been dishing out praise over his dedication to national unity, reforms and discipline. Chinaza Samuel in Abuja contributed to this article. Edited by: Benita van Eyssen
DW
2 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Muhammadu Buhari: A legacy of 'praise and pain' – DW – 07/14/2025
The strongman-turned-democrat led Nigeria twice — as military ruler from 1983 to 1985 and as elected president from 2015 to 2023. Muhammadu Buhari died at 82 in a London clinic on July 13. Muhammadu Buhari leaves a mixed legacy in Nigeria. He is remembered for trying to foster integrity in the country and for leadership that was deeply flawed. "From his military era to his two-term civilian presidency, he leaves behind a legacy filled with both praise and pain. We must reflect on justice and accountability," Sheriff Ansu, a digital content creator, said. Human rights activists say Buhari never let go of his autocratic tendencies. "Buhari was an ethnic bigot. He had contempt for the rule of law; he disobeyed court orders. He engaged in enforced disappearances of critics," Omoyele Sowore, an Abuja-based activist, told DW. "In 2015, he presided over mass murder of over 300 Shiites in Zaria. Young Nigerians protesting police brutality were gunned down in October 2020 by soldiers directed by Buhari. That is unforgettable and unforgivable." The protests were part of a movement dubbed #EndSARS, named after a special police unit accused for years of racketeering, torture and murder. The Buhari government violently crushed the movement. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan at the polls in 2015, in what was judged to be Nigeria's fairest general election to date. Not everyone liked having a former military general at the country's helm. Many nevertheless hoped he would crack down on armed groups. "He is one man who believed in making Nigeria the best place to live on Earth. He tried his best to bring Nigerians together as military ruler and a democratically elected leader," Yusuf Dantalle, chairman of Nigeria's Inter Party Advisory Council, told DW. "That does not mean he was perfect. He had his flaws like any other human being." "What stands out is that his presidency triggered national conversations around leadership accountability, youth inclusion and restructuring of systems to entrench democracy," Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, a media entrepreneur told DW. Many had expected Buhari's tenure as democratically-elected leader to be characterized by the kind of discipline, order and stability of a military veteran. Buhari described himself as a "converted democrat" when he swapped his military uniform for kaftans and prayer caps. "I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody," was his constant refrain to both supporters and critics. But Buhari's lacklustre leadership often made headlines and earned him the moniker "Baba Go Slow." It took him six months to name his ministers in 2015 and the oil-dependent economy was hobbled by low crude prices. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Buhari earned a devoted following for his brand of anti-corruption conviction politics. But his crackdowns on corruption also ran into criticism and failed to yield high-profile convictions. He retained his popularity in the country's poor and largely Muslim north, where he was from and where voters propelled him to his second term in 2019, That came despite a term that was blighted by Nigeria's first recession in a generation, attacks on oilfields by militants. Buhari was seen to repeatedly ignore advice from the International Monetary Fund to devalue the naira. Instead he kept the currency artificially high — the same failed approach he used as military ruler in the 1980s. In 2022 the production of oil — by far Nigeria's greatest export — fell to its lowest level in more than two decades due to theft in the Niger Delta. Frail health often interfered with Buhari's tenure as president. He made frequent trips to hospitals abroad for an undisclosed illness. In 2017, rumor of his death swirled after he disappeared from public eye for 51 days, reportedly to undergo treatment. Buhari's death at a London health facility reminded many Nigerian citizens of his medical trips and the controversy it had courted. Buhari, an ethnic Fulani and devout Muslim was born on December 17, 1942, in the northern Katsina state. He joined the army at 20 and rose quickly through the ranks, becoming an officer and the military governor of the states of Northeast and Bauchi. In 1976, the country's then military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Buhari as petroleum and energy minister. The position put him in charge of a newly founded National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Despite his new key role in Africa's largest oil producers, Buhari returned to the army as a commander, rejoining its Supreme Military Council, and leading several units. In 2003, he was presidential candidate for the All Nigeria's Peoples Party. His defeat was follwed by similarly unsuccessful bids in 2007 and 2011. In 2015, Buhari finally won the presidency with 54% of the vote. He had promised to fight rampant corruption and defeat the Islamist terrorist Boko Haram militia. "The symbolic thing about his victory is the fact that he is considered one of Nigeria's most incorruptible leaders. That is significant in a country where the population does not believe people in important positions deserve such a reputation," Manji Cheto, the vice president of Teneo Intelligence, said at the time. On December 31, 1983, when General Ibrahim Babangida and other members of the military overthrew elected President Shehu Shagari, Buhari was appointed to chair Nigeria's Supreme Military Council. To play this audio please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 audio He went on to suspend the Constitution, ban all political parties, and clamp down on corruption — making good on his threat at the time to jail the corrupt "without the nonsense of judicial proceedings." Under Buhari's "war on indiscipline" nearly 500 people were jailed for corruption and wasting taxpayers' money. Public servants were reportedly made to genuflect for coming late to work. Buhari had people executed, was intolerant of criticism and restricted press freedom. Nobellaureate Wole Soyinka said Nigerians felt they were living under an "iron-fisted, rigid rule and governance that spreads fear." Ironically, Buhari's reign ended as it started: in a coup staged by General Babangida in August 1985. In the 2022-2023 presidential race, Buhari endorsed Bola Tinubu who had been dishing out praise over his dedication to national unity, reforms and discipline. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Here's how Nigerians remember Buhari, who ruled both as a dictator and a democrat
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari, who ruled Africa's most populous nation twice as a military dictator and a democratic president, died on Sunday at age 82 and is being remembered as a divisive figure who oversaw one of the country's most troubled periods. 'He inherited unprecedented goodwill and squandered it," Olive Chiemerie, a Lagos-based writer, told The Associated Press. "His legacy is one of missed opportunities, deepening inequality and a country left to pick up the pieces.' 'EndSARS' protests In October 2020, thousands of youths took to the streets to protest against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, or SARS, a police unit accused by rights groups and others of extrajudicial killings, torture and extortion. Buhari initially responded by disbanding the unit. As the protests grew stronger with broader demands for better governance, however, his government deployed security forces to resist the demonstrations. On Oct. 20, soldiers opened fire at peaceful protesters in the economic hub of Lagos, killing at least 12 people, according to rights groups. Buhari didn't acknowledge the shootings in a nationwide address that called protesters 'rioters' and warned them against 'undermining national security." Ban on Twitter Months after the protests, many Nigerians took their anger online, mostly on Twitter, to rail against institutional corruption, economic woes and escalating insecurity. The matter spiked after Twitter removed a tweet from Buhari's account about a secessionist movement, calling it abusive. The Nigerian government responded by suspending access to the platform for seven months. That further heightened concerns over human rights. As a military dictator in Nigeria in the 1980s, Buhari had brooked little criticism. As president, he detained political opponents and several journalists. Nigerian police operatives once stormed a courtroom to re-arrest activist Omoyele Sowore, drawing outrage from the judge and many Nigerians. An ailing economy Buhari pursued economic policies that Nigerians said imposed huge strains on the economy, forcing it to dip into recession in 2016 and 2020. In 2019, he closed the border to all goods with the goal of spurring local production, especially of agricultural products, which sparked surging inflation. In the face of a dollar shortage as a result of a slump in oil production and falling oil prices globally, his government pegged the local currency to the dollar at an artificial rate, worsening the naira's value. 'Buhari left a legacy of debt that continues to sabotage the economic efforts of his successors,' said Akeem Alao, a teacher in Lagos. Security crises Buhari's administration failed to rid Nigeria of its security woes — a key election promise and an ambitious one in a country long threatened by Boko Haram extremists and a breakaway faction. The years of violence have killed at least 35,000 people and displaced more than 2 million. While Buhari was president, the extremists expanded beyond the northeast and partnered with other armed groups in the north to carry out attacks, including on a passenger train near the capital, Abuja, and a jailbreak there.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Here's how Nigerians remember Buhari, who ruled both as a dictator and a democrat
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari, who ruled Africa's most populous nation twice as a military dictator and a democratic president, died on Sunday at age 82 and is being remembered as a divisive figure who oversaw one of the country's most troubled periods. 'He inherited unprecedented goodwill and squandered it,' Olive Chiemerie, a Lagos-based writer, told The Associated Press. 'His legacy is one of missed opportunities, deepening inequality and a country left to pick up the pieces.' Here are some highlights of Buhari's presidency: 'EndSARS' protests In October 2020, thousands of youths took to the streets to protest against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, or SARS, a police unit accused by rights groups and others of extrajudicial killings, torture and extortion. Buhari initially responded by disbanding the unit. As the protests grew stronger with broader demands for better governance, however, his government deployed security forces to resist the demonstrations. On Oct. 20, soldiers opened fire at peaceful protesters in the economic hub of Lagos, killing at least 12 people, according to rights groups. Buhari didn't acknowledge the shootings in a nationwide address that called protesters 'rioters' and warned them against 'undermining national security.' Ban on Twitter Months after the protests, many Nigerians took their anger online, mostly on Twitter, to rail against institutional corruption, economic woes and escalating insecurity. The matter spiked after Twitter removed a tweet from Buhari's account about a secessionist movement, calling it abusive. The Nigerian government responded by suspending access to the platform for seven months. That further heightened concerns over human rights. As a military dictator in Nigeria in the 1980s, Buhari had brooked little criticism. As president, he detained political opponents and several journalists. Nigerian police operatives once stormed a courtroom to re-arrest activist Omoyele Sowore, drawing outrage from the judge and many Nigerians. An ailing economy Buhari pursued economic policies that Nigerians said imposed huge strains on the economy, forcing it to dip into recession in 2016 and 2020. In 2019, he closed the border to all goods with the goal of spurring local production, especially of agricultural products, which sparked surging inflation. In the face of a dollar shortage as a result of a slump in oil production and falling oil prices globally, his government pegged the local currency to the dollar at an artificial rate, worsening the naira's value. 'Buhari left a legacy of debt that continues to sabotage the economic efforts of his successors,' said Akeem Alao, a teacher in Lagos. Security crises Buhari's administration failed to rid Nigeria of its security woes — a key election promise and an ambitious one in a country long threatened by Boko Haram extremists and a breakaway faction. The years of violence have killed at least 35,000 people and displaced more than 2 million. While Buhari was president, the extremists expanded beyond the northeast and partnered with other armed groups in the north to carry out attacks, including on a passenger train near the capital, Abuja, and a jailbreak there. Buhari's government often declared that Boko Haram had been 'technically defeated,' to the scorn of critics.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Nigeria goment close case against Ipob leader but Nnamdi Kanu lawyers wan file no-case submission
Lawyers to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of di Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), don tok say dem go file a no-case submission on top di terrorism allegation wey di Nigeria goment sama on top dia client. Kanu Agabi wey be di lead defence team for Nnamdi Kanu, tok dis one for court on Thursday afta di federal goment counsel - Adegboyega Awomolo - inform di court say dem dey close dia case. For di hearing on Thursday, Awomolo call dia fifth and final witness, Mr EEE (no be im real name), who be officer of di Department of State Services. Di witness tell di court say na im lead investigation into di impact of di End SARS protest wey bin happun for across di kontri in October of 2020, and im be di secretary of di presidential ad-hoc committee on di assessment of impact of di end sars protest. E say im and im team bin travel to all di states for Southern Nigeria wia End SARS protest bin happun and e document di public properties wey pipo destroy and di number of security personnel wey kpai during di protest. Awomolo present to di court a copy of di report of di committee, and Nnamdi Kanu lawyers say dem get objection, but dem go raise am for dia written address. Di trial Judge, James Omotosho admit di document in evidence. According to di report, a total of 128 policemen, 37 army pipo and 10 DSS pipo bin die during di protest. Also di protesters destroy a total of 164 police stations and 19 Inec facilities across di kontri. 'Nnamdi Kanu broadcasts na di major cause of End SARS protest' As e dey give im witness, oga EEE tok say dia investigation reveal say di broadcasts wey Nnamdi Kanu bin dey do ova di years, na im be di underlying cause of di insurrection. E say: "As a trained security expert, we know say evri insurrection dey get two causes, di one wey pipo dey see and di underlying cause wey pipo no see, wey be di main cause of di insurrection." During cross-examination, Onyechi Ikpeazu wey be one of Nnamdi Kanu lawyers ask di witness say: "So, di entire End SARS protest na bicos di defendant ask pipo to protest?" EEE ansa say im no know about dat but e know say di defendant bin don dey tell pipo make dem attack security officials and destroy public property. "So when pipo bin destroy properties for Osun and Lagos state during the End SARS protest, you dey tell di court say na bicos di defendant ask dem to do am? Shey you dey categorically say di End SARS issue na Biafran issue?" Ikpeazu ask. Di witness respond say "my assignment no be to investigate Biafra, my assignment na to investigate di End SARS issue to which di defendant bin incite di public." EEE insist say di issue of police brutality fit be di secondary cause of di protest, but di real reasons na bicos say some subversive elements bin don dey incite di public against di goment. Nnamdi Kanu broadcasts na one of dose underlying causes. Di defense counsel den ask for a copy of di Lagos State judicial panel of enquiry into the End SARS protest, wey dem bin don tendered in evidence as exhibit PWO. E tell di witness say: "I put it to you say dis report no mention di defendant name or di IPOB or to indict dem for di damages wey happen during di End SARS protest." Oga EEE reply say im neva read di report so e no know wetin e tok. Also during di cross examination Ikpeazu point out to di witness some discrepancies for di document including say dem no give details of di dead bodies of di security pipo wey dem claim say Ipob/ESN pipo kill durin End SARS, and di fact say neither di witness wey claim to be secretary of di investigative committee nor di chairman of di committee sign di document. Ikpeazu also point out to di witness say di part of di report wey concern oda states of di kontri, di title na 'Report of di Assessment of di damage of impact of di End SARS protest', but from page 669 wey concern states in di southeast region, di title na 'Report of di Presidential adhoc committee investigating di activities of di leader of IPOB and ESN'. "I put it to you dat for di purpose of dis trial, una manufacture pages 669 downwards of dis document and den attach am to di report of the Assessment of di damage of impact of the end SARS protest," Ikpeazu tell di witness, and e say "No, dat is not di case". Afta di cross exmaination, FG lawyer Awomolo inform di court say dem don exhaust dia materials for di trial as dem don call five witnesses and tender plenty documents in evidence, "we hereby close our case". Di lead defence counsel, Kanu Agabi tell di court say dem intend to file a no-case submission. No-case submission na legal term wey mean to say di defence team dey tok say di prosecution no do enough to establish any case against di defendant, so make di court strike out di case. Justice Omotosho give both di prosecution and defence teams 14 days each to file dia written addresses, and e adjourn di matter to Friday, 18 July, 2025, for adoption of written addresses in respect of no case submission.
