Nigerians, says Bayo Oluwasanmi, are fully aware of the true legacy left by former President Muhammadu Buhari. Nigeria has suffered under despotic and corrupt leadership since independence, but Buhari’s rule, according to Oluwasanmi, represents a particularly destructive chapter.

Using the fable of the Dog, the Sheep, and the Wolves, Oluwasanmi likens Nigerian politics to a system where visionary leaders are demonized, while corrupt elites flourish. He argues that Buhari’s leadership fits the category of an “evil leader,” leaving behind lasting societal, economic, and institutional damage.

Oluwasanmi identifies Buhari’s legacy in seven major dimensions:

1. Incompetence – poor governance and failure to deliver on promises.
2. Rigidity – unwillingness to adapt to changing national needs.
3. Intemperance – harsh and often unempathetic decision-making.
4. Callousness – disregard for citizens’ welfare and human suffering.
5. Corruption – mismanagement of resources and enrichment of elites.
6. Insularity – isolationist policies and lack of inclusive governance.
7. Evil – fostering division, fear, propaganda, and institutional decay.

Oluwasanmi emphasizes that Buhari’s rule left Nigeria with:

• Corrupted institutions, including legal systems and security agencies.
• Economic devastation, infrastructure decay, and unsustainable debt.
• Erosion of truth, suppression of press freedom, and political polarization.
• A society accustomed to cruelty, corruption, and systemic dysfunction.

The op-ed warns that Buhari’s eight-year tenure serves as a cautionary tale of how leaders can inflict lasting harm when governance prioritizes power over the public good.