WASTED: Buhari spent more on Defence, but killed the wrong people for 8 years — Sani

Nigeria is approaching a pivotal moment as it nears the end of the eight-year administration of Muhammadu Buhari. Throughout his tenure, the country has experienced significant challenges, leading many to question the effectiveness of his government. While Buhari boldly claims that Nigerians will miss him once he leaves office, the people are left wondering about his true legacy.

Recently, Mahmoud Yakubu conducted the presidential election, which has been widely regarded as one of the worst in Nigeria since 1999. This election aimed to undermine the will of the people who had vowed to distance themselves from a party that had caused immense suffering since coming to power in 2015.

Without intervention from the judiciary to nullify the flawed February 25th presidential election or a popular uprising to demand change, Buhari’s prediction that Nigerians will miss him might unfortunately come true. This would mean enduring not only more years of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in power but also being governed by an individual widely perceived as one of the worst politicians in Nigeria, namely Bola Tinubu.

In 2015, Nigerians elected Buhari with hopes that he would tackle the numerous challenges afflicting the country, particularly in the areas of security and corruption. However, after eight years in power, the records reflect poorly on the Buhari government. Rather than addressing the core issues, the situation has deteriorated significantly.

Corruption remains rampant under Buhari’s administration, and his failure to address insecurity is inexcusable. Presently, countless lives are being lost across the nation, particularly in regions like southern Kaduna, Jos, Nasarawa, Benue, and Niger.

Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, criticized the Buhari government, highlighting the exorbitant defense budget that yielded little results in saving lives. Sani took to Twitter, stating “About twenty Billion dollars was budgeted for Defence in the eight years of this administration and over 63 thousand people were killed in the same period; going by the financial figures from Macrotrends and casualty figures from Council on Foreign Relations. The Buhari regime wasted more money and failed to secure the lives of Nigerians.”

Nigeria has been plagued by various security challenges, including the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnappings for ransom, Fulani herdsmen attacks, as well as ethnic and religious violence. These issues have resulted in the deaths of thousands, displacement of millions, and extensive property destruction.

Data from Macrotrends reveals a significant increase in Nigeria’s military spending since Buhari assumed office in 2015. In that year, Nigeria allocated $2.2 billion to its military, whereas, in 2022, the expenditure rose to $6.2 billion. However, despite this substantial increase, the security situation in Nigeria has not improved. On the contrary, it has worsened.

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has also criticized the Buhari government for its handling of the security crisis. In a 2022 report, the CFR stated that the government has failed to adequately address the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, and corruption. Additionally, the CFR highlighted the lack of transparency in military spending.

It is evident that Nigeria’s security challenges and corruption persist, despite increased military expenditure and promises for change. As the nation approaches a crucial turning point, it remains to be seen what the future holds and whether Nigerians will truly miss the Buhari administration once it concludes.