The death of Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari, has sparked a wave of strong and controversial reactions from aggrieved Nigerians, with many recalling his controversial legacy both as a military ruler and a civilian leader. Among those who have spoken out critically are journalist Kemi Olunloyo and activist Omoyele Sowore.
Kemi Olunloyo, a self-styled investigative journalist known for her outspoken views, did not mince words in her reaction. In a social media post, she wrote:
“Finally, Buhari and my dad will meet in hell. I hope everyone he locked up is released and all the journalists he executed during his military reign can continue to rest in peace. I hope his family can now tell the world he was 89 and not 82, because he was 48 years old with my dad in 1983 when he took over Shagari’s democracy.”
Olunloyo’s post has generated widespread attention and backlash, reigniting debates over Buhari’s record on press freedom and human rights during his time in power.
Equally scathing was Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, who catalogued alleged atrocities and abuses committed under Buhari’s leadership. In a statement posted online, Sowore declared:
“Buhari slaughtered hundreds of Shiites — men, women, and even children. He ordered soldiers to open fire on peaceful #EndSARS protesters waving the Nigerian flag. He ‘disappeared’ Dadiyata. He ordered the massacre of young Southeasterners he branded IPOB. He disobeyed court orders, jailed critics arbitrarily, destroyed the economy, and ruined everything he touched.
And now, because he’s dead, some people with selective memory want us to mourn or worship him?
Shameful.”
Buhari, who ruled Nigeria as a military head of state between 1983 and 1985 and later served two terms as an elected president from 2015 to 2023, remains a deeply polarizing figure. While some Nigerians remember him for his stance on anti-corruption and infrastructural efforts, critics have consistently pointed to authoritarian tendencies, human rights violations, and economic hardship under his administration.
As tributes continue to pour in from political allies and government institutions, these dissenting voices have reopened national debates about Buhari’s legacy and the cost of his leadership on democracy and civil liberties.
The former president died in London, though official details about the cause and final rites are yet to be released.
