The Final Bow: Reflecting on the Life, Legacy, and Lessons of President Muhammadu Buhari

By Abdul Kezo IkonAllah

The news of the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari has cast a long, contemplative shadow across the Nigerian landscape. For many, it is a time to remember, reflect, and reassess—not just the man who once held the highest seat in the land, but the fleeting nature of life, leadership, and legacy.

Born in 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, Muhammadu Buhari’s journey from a disciplined soldier to a two-time Head of State is the stuff of history. A man of austere personal habits and stern convictions, Buhari’s life was characterized by unwavering discipline, nationalistic fervor, and polarizing decisions. But in death, like all men, he is now judged not by title or uniform, but by the sum of his actions and the spirit in which they were carried out.

A Reminder of Life’s Transience

Buhari’s departure is a poignant reminder that power is not eternal. The motorcades, salutes, and sirens fade; all that remains is memory. For those who wield authority today—presidents, governors, ministers—his passing is a silent sermon: one day, the file will close, the office door will shut behind you, and the nation will move on.

No position, however exalted, is immune to the ultimate finality of death. The narrative of President Buhari’s life, with its highs and lows, serves as a living lecture in the brevity and burden of public service.

The Voices of the People: Praise and Criticism

As with all public figures, Buhari’s death has awakened a chorus of voices. Some laud him as a patriot who fought corruption, restored a measure of discipline in governance, and maintained an unyielding stance on national unity. They remember his modest lifestyle, his efforts to uplift the agricultural sector, and his ambitious infrastructural projects—especially in transport and energy.

Yet others are not as forgiving. They speak of a presidency marked by alleged nepotism, worsening insecurity, economic stagnation, and the alienation of critical segments of the population. They recall moments of silence during national crises, and a style of leadership that, to some, felt aloof and detached.

But perhaps this duality is not unusual. It is the fate of all leaders to be judged by both the hearts they warmed and the ones they wounded.

The Living and the Lessons

Beyond the statistics of his administration, Buhari’s death should inspire sober reflection, especially among today’s leaders. What kind of legacy are you building? Are you nurturing relationships that unite, or stoking fires that divide? Are policies being crafted with empathy, or executed from ivory towers?

True leadership goes beyond infrastructure—it involves the invisible structures of trust, equity, and empathy. Nigeria is a complex mosaic, and those in power must embrace interpersonal relationships that transcend ethnicity, religion, and political loyalty to serve the collective good.

The day’s headlines will eventually change. The condolences will fade. But the opportunity for change and introspection remains—for now.

A Nation Moves Forward

As the nation mourns and memorializes, it is also moving forward, as all nations must. But let Buhari’s passing not just be a footnote in national history. Let it be a turning point—a reminder that what truly matters is not how long one ruled, but how well one served.

In the end, Muhammadu Buhari has exited the stage, his voice now part of the echo of history. It is for the living to listen, learn, and lead better. For the finality of death respects no office, and legacy is a mirror—reflecting what we leave behind when the power is gone.