Buhari comes alive as sponsors of social media misrepresentation of his personality, legacy exposed
*Criticism of late President misrepresents his record – Farid Labaran
*As latest debate hands Buhari 100% approval rate across North, South even in death
*Those that used family participation in their manipulative account of him should know Buhari is bigger than family level assessments but national, global – Interlocutors
By SUMAYYAH ADEFAKA, Politics and Personality
Generally, all Interlocutors who contributed at the debate agreed that those who sponsored the writing of a book and gathered all anti and not really friends of Buhari to its launch with a view to disparage the late sage should now be aware that their hard labour on such terrain has again failed as Major General Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, Retired, never expected validation for his good service to the nation from any man but his Lord Allah.
A public commentary by Farid Labaran has sparked renewed debate over the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari, with contributors arguing that social media narratives have unfairly diminished his record in office and ignored key achievements of his administration.
Labaran contended that online discourse often portrays Buhari as an incompetent leader with little to show for his eight years in office, a depiction he described as misleading and historically inaccurate. He maintained that Buhari’s career spanned decades of public service, including roles as Federal Commissioner for (Minister of) Petroleum, Governor of the defunct North-Eastern State, Military Head of State, Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), and later President of Nigeria.
The DEFENDER checks revealed that some Nigerian, most of South West and South East extractions without voting power enough to install a president even when marked to South South, are behind the social media use abuse that tend to misrepresent any Northerner in power no matter how greatly and well he performs.
The checks also revealed that these same sectarian Nigerians often see opportunity to occupy the office of President of the country as “our turn to reposition Nigeria to our favour”, which many other loyal and patriotic Nigerians including some other Southerners and Northerners describe as reason the country is actually backward and not progressing against the narratives of pointing to one religion or Muslim North being the problem.
According to Labaran and several respondents, Buhari’s administration delivered major infrastructure projects such as the Second Niger Bridge, the Lagos–Ibadan Rail Line, Warri-Itakpe Rail Line, Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line, and key expressways across the country including the busiest 185-kilometre Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. They also cited long-term initiatives like the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and the Lagos–Kano–Maradi rail project as evidence of strategic planning.
Supporters further pointed to what they described as the largest social investment programme in Nigeria’s history, alongside increased funding for agriculture, rail transport, power infrastructure, ports, and education.
They noted that these efforts were undertaken amid significant challenges, including low global oil prices, a depleted treasury, the COVID-19 pandemic, and broader global economic disruptions through which Muhammadu Buhari, of the same Fulani these “ranting” social media abusers want the world to see and believe as good for nothing but fellows of cows and as number enemies of Nigeria, navigated and made Nigeria better in global concern crisis as of the pandemic the went through.
In her contribution, Alexander Gaadison highlighted the impact of the pandemic, arguing that Nigeria’s ability to navigate the crisis under Buhari’s leadership contradicted claims of total failure. Other commentators, including Abubakar Abdul Rahman, Ibrahim Muhammad Jega, and Haruna Yusuf, echoed similar views, praising Buhari’s integrity and describing his exit from office without corruption allegations as a defining aspect of his legacy.
Several contributors also referenced Buhari’s role in reviving abandoned projects, expanding rail networks, licensing private refineries, investing in power generation, strengthening national security through military procurement, and promoting economic diversification through agriculture and small-scale enterprises.
While acknowledging that opinions about Buhari remain deeply divided, Labaran and those engaging in the discussion stressed the importance of context in evaluating his administration. They argued that historical assessments should weigh both achievements and challenges, rather than relying solely on social media sentiment.
The debate reflects the broader national conversation over Buhari’s place in Nigeria’s political history, with supporters insisting that time and detailed analysis will offer a more balanced judgment of his years in office.
Generally, all Interlocutors who contributed at the debate agreed that those who sponsored the writing of a book and gathered all anti and not really friends of Buhari to its launch with a view to disparage the late sage should now be aware that their hard labour on such terrain has again failed as Major General Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, Retired, never expected validation for his good service to the nation from any man but his Lord Allah.
In details, Farid Labaran, convener of the public debate, said, “If you relied solely on social media narratives, you would walk away believing that former President Muhammadu Buhari was a novice plucked from obscurity, a man with zero credibility, packaged and sold to Nigerians under false pretenses. The prevailing online sentiment suggests he achieved nothing of value in eight years.
“However, history tells a different story. Buhari is a self-made man who rose through the ranks with integrity and defined competence. His track record is extensive: Minister of Petroleum, Governor of the North-Eastern State, Military Head of State, and Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), before becoming the immediate past President of Nigeria.
“An “incompetent failure” does not initiate and complete massive infrastructure projects like the Second Niger Bridge and the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line. Incompetence does not conceive visionary, long-term projects like the AKK Gas Pipeline or the Lagos-Kano-Maradi Rail. Under his watch, Nigeria witnessed the largest social investment programme in its history, designed to uplift the vulnerable, alongside the most significant investment in agriculture to date.
“It is crucial to remember the context: his administration achieved this despite inheriting a near-empty treasury and navigating a global oil crisis where prices averaged just $40 per barrel. To label him the “worst President” in the face of these tangible achievements suggests that, for some critics, the math simply isn’t adding up.”
In his contribution, Alexander Gaadison said, “We must not also forget the once in a lifetime pandemic that ravaged the entire world. There was a total global lockdown due to the pandemic. I don’t think a failure could have seen us through the pandemic. Yet Nigeria came out stronger and her economy was doing better than many of the advanced countries in the world. May God grant Maigaskiya eternal rest in His Kingdom. Amen.”
Responding to Alexander Gaadison, Yariman Buhari Maijamaa said, “Going by your name, this coming from you, I feel inner joy. Thanks alot for making me happy !!!”
Still appraising Gaadison, Muhammadu Shamsudeen Abdullah said, “Alexander Gaadison You’re a sincere person,” while Tajudeen Yusuf Maishikafa said, “Alexander Gaadison You are one of the people of wisdom and truthful.”
In his comment on the main topic by Farid Labaran, Abubakar Abdul Rahman said, “Allah SWT has Himself declared in the QUR’ANI Suratul Aditya in an unpleasant experience manner; “INNAL INSANA LI RABBIHI LAKANUD WA INNAHU ALA ZALIKA LA SHAHEED” Meaning; Verily MAN is an ingrate ungrateful to his Lord and Creator and (worse of it all) he MAN is a witness to that (ungratefulness)!.
“So if some people are unashamedly Pop up to bring ungrateful to the Good GOD that Created them out of nothing AND made them something worth reconning with, should anyone be disturbed and surprised if they portrayed similar ingratitude to their fellow Man no matter the heavy scale of his sacrifices for their own good and upliftment?
“The undeniable fact is despite the travails of Sad Worldwide Economic Retardation Calamities such as COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS AND SUNDRY INTERNATIONAL STANDING BENCHMARK MISFORTUNES THAT CROPPED UP DURING MUCH OF HIS FIRST AND SECOND TENURES, BUHARI’S performance and pedigree has been UNPRECEDENTED Example of INFRASTRUCTURAL AND PEOPLE’S EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS high scale of achievement that is award winning. It’s entirely your own Cup of Tea if you choose to be part of the ingrates!!”
He added, “THAT BUHARI WENT INTO GOVERNMENT AS AN INCORRUPTIBLE MAN AND EXITED POWER AS UNCORRUPTED IS LEGENDARY, ICONIC AND CREDIBLE CHARACTER DEVOID OF SENTIMENTS HINGED ON HERO WARSHIP OR SECTIONAL CONSIDERATION!!
Ibrahim Muhammad Jega said, “Spot on, Farid Labaran!
“Social media often ignores the facts, but Buhari’s record speaks for itself. He delivered massive projects like the Second Niger Bridge, the Lagos–Ibadan Rail, and the AKK Gas Pipeline, all while managing a depleted treasury and a volatile global oil market.
This isn’t incompetence—it’s effective governance. Critics may focus on perception, but history will remember the discipline, resilience, and sense of purpose he brought to Nigeria’s development. Buhari was no novice; he was a leader with a clear vision.”
Rufai Ahmed wondered that, “Ibrahim Muhammad Jega The southern media has made mockery of these remarkable achievement for political reasons ,he. has done for them more than any other president in history.” To this, Jega replied, “Rufai Ahmed very true. Politics shaped the narrative, not the facts. Many of Buhari’s biggest projects benefited the South, yet some media chose mockery over honesty. History will remember who built, not who shouted.” Bilyaminu Shuaibu replied, “Ibrahim Muhammad Jega I feel like sheding tears for you said it all.”
“Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) Projects and Administration alone define the real integrity of late President Muhammad Buhari. May God Almighty forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdausi”, said Haruna Yusuf.
As for Lanre Akinwumi, “PMB really set a standard of how government can be run,massive infrastructural development, perform better than other government since 1999 who inspite of huge revenue oil revenue they couldn’t rebuilt Lagos Ibadan expressway and many more.”
Jackie Kay took everyone deeper memory say, “You didn’t hit the main points : Buhari’s administration experienced the once in a century pandemic , the Russia-Ukrainian war and an incoming recession from GEJ.
In international analysis of administrations , they consider these earth moving factors. But Nigeria analysts pretend they never existed in their analysis of the performances of administrations.” He was acknowledged by the convener Farid Labaran who said, “Jackie Kay you’re absolutely right. Context is very important.”
Saheed AbdsSalaam simply referenced Cham Faliya Sharon reposting: “WHY I LOVE THE BUHARI CABAL!
By Cham Faliya Sharon
■1) The Buhari cabal proved beyond doubt that it’s possible to build mega infrastructural projects in Nigeria, unlike the case before the administration came on board when building mere roads and bridges was seen as rocket science!
■(2) The Buhari cabal completed the 184km Abuja – Kaduna rail line, which took previous governments 10 years to construct. The Buhari cabal spent less than 5 years to construct the 326km Warri – Itakpe – Ajaokuta rail line, the Lagos – Ibadan rail line, the Lagos – Abeokuta rail line, and then commenced the Kaduna – Kano rail line, and the Kano – Maradi railway project. Add also the ongoing Port Harcourt – Enugu – Bauchi – Gombe – Maiduguri railway project!
■ 3 And to ensure self-sufficiency in rail service, the Buhari cabal established a Trains Wagons Assembly plant in Kajola, Ogun State as well as Railways Maintenance Plants in Abuja and Delta State!
■ 4) The Buhari cabal proceeded to give us the gargantuan Second Niger Bridge, the Port Harcourt – Enugu Expressway, the Lagos – Sagamu Expressway, the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, the Keffi – Akwanga – Lafiya – Makurdi Highway, the Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Expressway, the Zaria – Funtua Highway, the Kano – Hadejia Highway, the Kano – Katsina Highway, the Kano – Maiduguri Expressway, the Loko – Oweto Expressway and Bridge, the Bonny – Bodo Road and bridges, and many, many, many more roads across the country!
■ 5) The Buhari cabal ensured a massive investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, thereby giving us the famous Ajaokuta – Kaduna – Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, which will expand and revolutionize the gas market in Northern Nigeria!
■ 6) Pursuant to that, the Buhari cabal ensured the commencement of the ambitious NLNG Train 7 project along our southern coasts as well as the Nigeria – Morocco gas pipeline project, which will ease the access of Nigeria’s gas supply to European markets!
■7) The Buhari cabal ensured the issuance of 65 private refineries licences, chief among them were the Dangote Refinery licence and the BUA Refinery license, which is now near completion in Akwa Ibom State. A few other modular refineries were completed before the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari ended in 2023. Any benefits now derivable from the Dangote Refinery are all thanks to the Buhari cabal!
■ 8) The Buhari cabal also ensured the expansion of Nigeria’s riverine ports by enabling the construction of the Lekki Deep Seaport, the Calabar Sea Port, the Onne Sea Port as well as the Baro Inland Water Port (which is 90% completed)!
■9) The Buhari cabal also ensured the development of some dry ports in non-riverine areas in order to expand local and international trade, namely the Funtua Dry Port, Kaduna Dry Port, Ibadan Dry Port, Dala Dry Port in Kano, Jos Dry Port, etc.
■ 10) The Buhari cabal made history by investing more than any other administration in the development and renewal of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure. The famous SIEMENS Energy AG deal was one of those investments that saw the massive procurements of Mega Transformers, construction of new Substations and power plants for enhanced electricity production and supply to Nigerians!
■ 11) The Buhari cabal proudly gave us the Kashimbilla Hydroelectric Dam, the Zungeru Hydroelectric Dam, and the Dadin Kowa Hydroelectric Dam in Gombe State that was abandoned for over 40 years before the cabal came and built it. There are many other dams, especially agricultural, that the cabal also built or rebuilt, which time cannot permit me to list here!
■ 12) The Buhari cabal made history by investing in the procurement of military hardware for our national security more than any other administration in history. We saw our Navy equipped with new warships and surveillance boats just as we saw our Air Force get equipped with various kinds of fighter jets and attack helicopters, and the Army also re-armed with new battle tanks, new armoured gear and artillery weapons, supply trucks, and so on!
■ 13) The Buhari cabal consciously committed themselves to the diversification of Nigeria’s economy by causing a massive investment in local food production, which consequently reduced capital flight in food imports, which also helped in strengthening the value of the Naira, and which also helped in boosting local wealth generation and distribution, which then made our farmers respectably comfortable financially!
■ 14) As a result of the Buhari cabal’s commitment to agriculture and local food production, the cabal ended up multiplying Nigeria’s fertilizer blending plants from 4 to more than 70, and our rice mills from 8 to 91, as at when the Buhari administration rounded up on May 29, 2023. This means the cabal was able to create millions of jobs and business opportunities in the agricultural sector alone, which was accentuated by the revival of dry season farming that the cabal also promoted!
■ 15) The Buhari cabal gave us about 7 brand new Federal Polytechnics across the country as well as several brand new universities, including the Nigerian Army University in Biu, Borno State, the Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Delta State, the University of Agriculture, Zuru, Kebbi State, University of Transportation, Daura, the Air Force University, Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi State, the University of Health Sciences, Azare, Bauchi State, the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Kano, and several others!
■ 16) Without the Buhari cabal, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which has stayed for over 30 years without a secretariat, wouldn’t have gotten its beautiful, expansive headquarters in Port Harcourt and neither would have the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) gotten their beautiful 17-storey headquarters building in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State!
■ 17) The Buhari cabal was gracious enough to understand the importance and merit of national service when they remembered workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Railway Corporation, NITEL, M-TEL and NEPA who were ignored for decades by previous administrations and paid them all their pensions and gratuities. The kind gesture was also extended to Biafran soldiers, that is, Nigerians who fought on the side of Biafra during the civil war!
■18) The Buhari cabal appears to understand both micro and macro economics very well, especially the concept of boosting the economy through SMEs, which made them set up social investment schemes like N-Power, the School Feeding Programme for primary schools, the TraderMoni scheme, the FarmerMoni scheme, the Extended Special Public Works Programme, and the Survival Fund for artisans and petty traders!
■ 19) After coming to power on the 29th of May 2015, the Buhari cabal urgently bailed out all the 36 states upon the realisation that 27 of them were owing workers’ wages, ranging from 7 months to 14 months, and the cabal did this at the time crude oil was sold at around $27 per barrel. It is important to point out that the workers’ wage debts were incurred at the time crude oil was sold at an average price of $100 per barrel, which tells you the level of profligacy, corruption and waste that reigned in the country before the Buhari cabal came to power!
■ 20) And why wouldn’t I love the Buhari cabal when I have seen how they adroitly maintained a very stable exchange of 430 Naira to a dollar for several years, subsidized petroleum products and electricity for Nigerians, ran our budgets the way budgets should be run, checked inflation efficiently, and generally operated an economy that was kinder to all segments of the population!
To the Saheed’s repost, Bala Yari exclaimed, “What a hard working cable may you rest in jannatul firdausi baba. I appreciate this writer you do well.”
Muhammad Iskeel said, “True; Buhari was one of the greatest achievers of our time.”
