Former Nigerian leader Muhammad Bukhara dies at the age of 82

Nigeria President Muhammad Buhari, who died 82 years of age at the London clinic, was a former military leader and an independent converted Democrat who returned to power in the elections, but fought for convincing the Nigerians that he could make a change he promises.

Never a natural politician, he was perceived as distance and strict. But he retained the reputation of personal honesty – a rare feat for politics in Nigeria.

After three unsuccessful attempts, Bukhara reached a historical victory in 2015, becoming the first opposition candidate in the country to defeat the current one. In 2019, it was re -elected for another four -year term.

Bukhara was always popular among the poor north (known as “Talakov” in the House), but for the 2015 campaign, it had the advantage of the united opposition that groups behind it.

Many of those who supported him believed that his military origin and disciplinary powers are what the country is necessary to overcome the Islamist uprising in the north. Bukhara also promised to solve corruption and counters in the government, as well as to create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

But his time coincided with the fall of world oil prices and the worst economic crisis of the country over the decades.

His administration also fired for a refuancy. During the agitation, he promised to defeat Boko Haram’s Islamist group. But the group remains a threat, and one of its factions is now connected with the so -called Islamic State group.

There was also a rise in the deadly contractions between the farmers and the ethnic postures of Fulani in Central Nigeria. Mr. Bukhari, Fulani, was accused of insufficiently tough for shepherds or doing enough to stop the crisis.

The activity of the so-called bandits in the northwestern part of the country saw the abduction of hundreds of high school students.

Under his watches, the armed forces were accused of human rights violations – as an opening of fire Anti-Political Participants Participants in Lekki Tollgate In Lagos in October 2020.

Muhammad Buhari was born in December 1942 in Dauri in Katina in the far north of Nigeria, near the border with Niger. At the time, Nigeria was controlled by the British, and it would be 18 years old before the country gained independence.

Bukhara’s father, who died when he was four, was a Fulani, and his mother, who raised him, was Canunia. In an interview with 2012, Bukhara said he was a 23rd child and his mother. He said his only memory of his father was both of them, and one of his semi was thrown out of the back of the horse.

Young Bukhara attended elementary school in Dauri and then a boarding school in Katin. After graduation, he was admitted to Nigerian military training, joining Nigeria’s army shortly after independence.

Bukhara conducted officer training in the UK since 1962-1963, and then began his stable rise up the ranks.

In the following years, Bukhara attributed his disciplinary inclination to conduct his stages at the boarding school, where the bodily punishment was the norm and in the military. He was “lucky” to survive such harsh conditions that taught him a lot of work, he said.

In 1966, a military coup took place in Nigeria, and then a counter -coup – a time of turmoil for the army officers, but Bukhara always claimed that he was too junior to play some significant role.

Less than 10 years later, under the military government, Bukhara rose to become a northeast military governor, and then, consisting of six states.

After less than a year of Bukhari, which in the mid-1930s, he was again raised, becoming a federal commissioner for oil and natural resources (essentially oil minister) in 1976 under Olousgun Obasanjo in his first spell as head of Nigeria.

Until 1978, Bukhara, a colonel, returned to the military commander. His tough position in 1983 – when some Nigerian islands were attached to Lake Chad Chadzhon soldiers – still remembered in the northeast, after he blocked the territory and left the invaders.

At the end of 1983, another coup against the elected President Shech Chagor took place, and Bukhara, who was now general, became the military leader of the country. In his own account, he was not one of the plots, but was installed (and further refused) those who held true power and needed the main field.

Other accounts believe that he played a more active role in removing Chagor than he was ready to admit.

Bukhari ruled for 20 months, the period was remembered by the company against the indiscipline and corruption, as well as for human rights violations.

About 500 politicians, officials and entrepreneurs were imprisoned as part of a campaign against waste and corruption.

Some saw this as violent military government repression. Others remember this as a commendable attempt to fight endemic corruption that held back the development of Nigeria.

Bukhara has retained a rare reputation among Nigeria’s politicians, both military and civilian ones, in many ways from this campaign.

Within his “war against indiscipline”, he ordered the Nigerians to create neat queues at stops, under sharp eyes of soldiers who possess lashes. Public servants who were late for work were publicly humiliated, causing frog jumps.

Some of his measures may have been considered as simply eccentric. But others were truly repressive, for example, a decree on the restriction of press freedom, under which journalists went to jail.

The Bukhara government also closed the greatest musical hero of Nigeria Fello Kuta – the thorns in the side of consistent leaders – on fabricated allegations concerning the export of currency.

Bukhara’s attempts to balance state finances again by restraining imports led to many losses and closure of enterprises.

As part of the anti -corruption measures, he also ordered the currency to replace – the color of the Nerry’s note was changed – forcing all the owners of old notes to exchange them for a limited period.

Prices rose when the standard of living fell, and in August 1985, Bukhara was rejected and imprisoned for 40 months. The head of the army, General Ibrahim Babangid, took over.

After his release, and, he said, seeing the consequences of the Soviet Union’s break, Bukhara decided to enter the party policy, which is now convinced of virtues in multiple democracy and free and fair elections.

Despite this, Bukhara always defended the 1983 coup, saying in 2005: “The military came when it was absolutely necessary, and the chosen people failed the country.”

He also dismissed the allegations that his measures against journalists and others have gone too far, insisting that he simply applies the laws that others violated.

He was elected president in 2015, becoming the first opposition candidate who won the incumbent after the return of multi -party democracy in 1999.

Being president, Bukhara made the power of his “unauthorizedness”, announcing his relatively modest wealth and saying that he “overcame several past opportunities” to enrich himself.

He was simply talked by nature, which sometimes played for him in the media and sometimes bad.

Although few doubted his personal commitment to combating corruption, there were some notable scalps, some question whether the structures were reformed that allows mismanagement.

And attempts to improve the prospects of youth employment were, at best, work.

On the day when Bukhara left the office, some Nigerians asked in a video that was widely shared on social media that they remember the most about their time, and all respondents said the same: “Bag with rice.”

The reason was simple – rice is the main food in the country.

A standard rice bag by 50 kg (110 pounds), which can help feed the household between eight to 10 per month, cost only 7,500 Neri ($ 5;

This has led to hunger in many parts of the country.

A huge splash of the cost of rice was because, in the waters of its previous policy as a military leader, Bukhara banned the import of rice to encourage more Nigerian farmers to grow the crop.

However, the local manufacturers were unable to meet the high demand, and many of his fans lost his faith.

Ismail Daniara, a resident of the northern city of Cano, said he had supported Bukhara since the first time challenged the presidency in 2003.

“I used to buy a 50 kg rice bag near Hudluk (Jonathan), but when Bukhara came, it was difficult for me to buy even 25 kg of rice because it became so expensive,” he said BBC.

At one point, even Bukhara’s wife threatened Do not support its application for re -election.

Nigerians love nicknames, and some nicknames of the country’s leaders are stuck long after they left the post.

For example, the former military leader of Ibrahim Badamos Babanhid is still called “Maradona” for the fact that people perceived as his tactical dribble on issues and situations.

For Bukhara, it was “Baba (father) slowly” after it took six months to name his first cabinet for his post in 2015.

Responding to his nickname over the years, Bukhara said it was not his fault that it took so much time to do anything.

“Yes, we’re slow because the system is slow. It’s not a grandmother slowly, but it’s a system, so I go on this system, and I hope we will do it,” he said in 2018.

Nigerian policy in 2022-2023 remains one of the most interesting in the country’s democratic history.

In the mind of many, this was the first time the president was not very worried about who his successor would be.

Bukhara openly stated that he would support the one who won the nomination of his party (all progressive), but insiders say he was ambiguous behind the scenes.

Bukhara’s body tongue strengthened all five candidates who sought the APC approval and their supporters were doing, saying that they were supported.

At one point, it seemed that Bukhara opposed his successor Ball Tinubo.

Next was the declaration “Policy by replacement of Nira“Which Bukhara administration announced, among other things, will limit the impact of money in the 2023 elections.

Many Nigerians believed that the policy was aimed at preventing Tinuba to become president, although he was elected a candidate for the agro -industrial complex.

The policy envisaged the confiscation of trillion old notes and their replacement with new notes for the highest denominations.

However, the new notes lacked, which led to the shortage and suffering millions, especially less consolidation, which are counting on cash for their daily operations.

The politician was dismissed only after the Supreme Court ruling, a few days before the election.

Tinubo won the narrowly, with 37% of the vote when the opposition was divided.

Any assessment of the Bukhari presidency should take into account his decline, which made him take significant lack of work, especially during his first term.

The former military leader may have reinterpreted himself as a Democrat, but such commitment to transparency regarding his own health, and the Nigerians left unintended about the suitability of the head of state.

Muhammad Bukhari twice married, first from Sofinat Yusuf from 1971-1988, and then in 1989 to Aisha Khalil, who survived him. He had 10 children.