Nigerian former President Muhammadu Buhari has died in London at age 82 after a prolonged illness. He made history in 2015 as the first opposition candidate to defeat a sitting president. Buhari rebranded himself as a civilian politician and was recognized for his anti-corruption rhetoric. However, during his presidency, insecurity escalated, and armed violence spread throughout Nigeria. He is remembered as a symbol of democratic change amidst incomplete transformations in economic management and security challenges.
Buhari made history in 2015 when he became the first opposition candidate in Nigeria's modern era to defeat a sitting president at the polls, unseating Goodluck Jonathan in what was widely praised as the country's most credible election.
Known for his austere style and fiery rhetoric against corruption, Buhari was seen by his supporters as a reformer. 'I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody,' he often declared, seeking to position himself above Nigeria's entrenched political factions.
While he promised to defeat Boko Haram and restore order, armed violence spread far beyond the northeast. Gunmen, separatists, and criminal groups operated with impunity across large parts of the country by the end of his tenure.
Buhari leaves behind a legacy as a symbol of democratic change in Nigeria, even if the transformation he promised remained incomplete. He is being remembered as both a pivotal figure in the country's democratic evolution and a deeply flawed leader when it came to economic management and security.
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