The passing of President Muhammadu Buhari was received with shock across Nigeria. Even to his critics, it evoked mixed emotions. The former President lived a life marked by personal integrity and admirable character, acknowledged even by those who opposed him. Personally, my most enduring memory of him will be his democratic administration. It shaped my understanding of governance in Nigeria, especially as someone who grew up with the stories of his character and honesty. His picture stickers, often inscribed with "Mai Gaskiya" & "General Muhammadu Buhari", were everywhere — on plates, pots, and even torchlights. He was seen far more than just a politician. During the 2015 general elections, Nigeria was electrified with the anticipation of change. It was a transformative period for our political landscape. As a young citizen which was then ineligible to vote, I was still immersed in the excitement and optimism surrounding the elections. We all wanted for him to...
You need a little observation to see that we are not far different from the leaders that we constantly criticise (maybe even worse than them). That doesn't make an excuse to their menace. The point is, the normal injustice or corruption that happens in our locals which we labelled as "favor" or "alfarma" is the same that happens at the top level, just that the threshold and frequencies are different. If we always scold our leaders for differing common sense in making policies, do we also question the common social vices around us? The concept of having an ideal state is as fallable as being an atheist. Leaders are responsible with making laws and orders, but are they gotten from Mars? The local mechanic that destroy a different component of his customer car after handing it to him for repair (so that he'll return for another repair) may be a Minister in the future. The replica of his actions will continue, but this time, the consequences will be felt by the ...