Ohanaeze Mourns, Calls On Nigeria Leaders To Learn From Buhari’s Missteps

By Alex Odeh

The pan Igbo scio-cultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo has consoled with the family and the federal government over the death of former President and Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, advising Nigeria leaders to avoid his pitfalls

Ohanaeze conveyed this through a press statement issued on Monday in Abakaliki and signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Chief Thompson Ohia, Deputy President General and National Spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

According to Ohanaeze, late former President and Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari was a disciplinarian, but the memories of the Southeastern part of the country under his administration from 2015 to 2023 were characterized with sorrow and distress.

While calling on the Southeast to forgive late former President Muhammadu Buhari, said the reality remains that the painful episodes of Buhari’s episode presidency cannot be easily overlooked.

The statement reads: “The Igbo people, during Buhari’s tenure, were subjected to systemic victimization and vulnerability, often exacerbated by the use of state machinery.

“Although we have chosen to forgive, it is crucial to acknowledge that the troubling silence of the Federal Government regarding the atrocities committed by Fulani herdsmen and militias against the Igbo community remains a haunting memory.

“It is particularly distressing to recall the former President’s provocative statements, including references to “a dot in the circle” and “teaching Igbos the language they will understand,” which contributed to feelings of alienation and marginalization.

Ohanaeze, therefore called of Nigeria leaders to learn from the missteps of past leaders, considering the fact that political positions are transient.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls upon Nigeria’s leaders at all levels to learn from the missteps of the past, particularly in light of the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“His administration’s legacy is largely regarded as subpar among Nigerians, serving as a stark reminder that those who hold positions of authority must recognize the transient nature of power. The legacies they forge will ultimately be assessed by history and by the very people they were meant to serve.

“Moreover, the stark disparity in the treatment of confirmed Boko Haram terrorists and hardened Northern bandits—who were released and reabsorbed into society—while peaceful Biafra agitators languish in prisons across Nigeria underscores a severe injustice.

“The ongoing insecurity challenges within the Southeast, attributed to violence instigated by Fulani herdsmen and militias, began to escalate under Buhari’s watch; the genocidal killings and ethnic cleansing experienced during this period left an indelible mark on our collective psyche.

“In addition, the painful saga surrounding the arrests of Nnamdi Kanu, who remains in custody to this day, highlights the chasm of trust that developed between the Igbo people and the federal authority during Buhari’s administration.

“Let this moment serve to inspire current and future leaders to prioritize the welfare of all citizens, thereby crafting legacies enriched with justice, integrity, and compassion”, they said.