Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A former Political Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Akin Osuntokun, has delivered a blunt assessment of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure, insisting that while Buhari was regarded as a "hero of the North," he failed to govern the country effectively and did not improve the living standards of Nigerians. Osuntokun made the remarks on Monday, 13 July 2026, during an appearance on Arise Television's Morning Show, where he assessed Buhari's legacy one year after his death.
According to Osuntokun, Buhari enjoyed considerable popularity in the northern part of the country but failed to translate that support into policies that improved the welfare of the general population. He argued that Buhari's eight-year administration did not significantly improve the living standards of Nigerians, and that insecurity and ethnic tensions worsened during his tenure. The former presidential aide rejected the notion that Buhari substantially improved the welfare of people in the North simply because he hailed from the region.
Osuntokun also accused the Buhari administration of failing to adequately address the conflict involving farmers, herders and armed groups in different parts of the country. He argued that the clashes escalated under Buhari, particularly as communities accused the government of not taking decisive action against perpetrators of violence. During Buhari's presidency, several communities across the North-Central and southern parts of the country experienced repeated clashes between farmers and pastoralists over land, grazing routes and access to water. The violence resulted in deaths, displacement and destruction of property, while critics accused the administration of failing to respond firmly to the crisis.
Osuntokun further alleged that Buhari's appointments into key government and security positions were heavily tilted towards the northern part of the country. According to him, the former President appeared unconcerned about criticisms that his administration did not sufficiently reflect Nigeria's federal character. Buhari faced sustained criticism during his administration over the regional composition of his appointments, particularly in the security sector. Although his supporters argued that appointments were based on competence and trust, critics maintained that the distribution did not adequately represent the country's ethnic and regional diversity. Osuntokun cited an incident where Buhari, before becoming President, led a Fulani-Muslim delegation to meet the then governor of Oyo State, Lam Adesina, over a conflict in the Oke-Ogun area, citing the incident as evidence of what he described as Buhari's strong identification with northern and Fulani interests.
Osuntokun also argued that Buhari failed to live up to his reputation as a corruption crusader while in office, citing widespread allegations of corruption within his administration. He attributed part of the problem to Buhari's own admittance of old age and prolonged health challenges, saying his extended medical stays abroad weakened presidential oversight and created room for aides and associates to exercise enormous influence. He also dismissed claims by former First Lady Aisha Buhari that her husband's enduring legacy lies in education and human capital development, saying he found little evidence to support the assertion. He acknowledged that Buhari established new federal universities but maintained that he was unaware of any landmark reforms or investments that justified describing education as the administration's most significant legacy. Osuntokun concluded that Buhari's years in office would continue to generate debate, with Nigerians holding divergent views on whether his presidency delivered meaningful progress or fell short of expectations.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments