Why Buhari Is The Most Corrupt President In Nigeria’s History – Col. Umar Abubakar

A former military governor of Old Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Umar Dangiwa (rtd), has described the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2023 as the most corrupt in the history of Nigeria.

This was as he pointedly said that Buhari’s high level of nepotism ensured that appointments, particularly in the sensitive area of security were skewed in favour of his section of the country thus, leading to unprecedented polarization, discontent and separatist agitations.

Umar, who stated these in an interview with SUNDAY SUN newspaper, said that contrary to insinuations, Buhari was neither oblivious nor ignorant of the corruption around him as his aides and appointees greased him by siting over 20 major projects in Daura, his hometown.

He noted that the former president had the opportunity to declare his assets publicly before and after his tenure of office as he promised to do while campaigning for the office but, failed to do so, stressing that his assets declaration to the Katsina farmers was meaningless and doesn’t meet the legal requirements and expectations of the general public.

Umar, who was one of the Army Majors that arrested Major General Buhari as military Head of State in 1985 coup, stressed that it does not matter if Buhari left the Presidency poorer, saying that the truth remain that he presided over the most corrupt administration in the history of this country.

In the words of Umar; “His appointment as AU chairman of anti-corruption, if true, and whatever it means, appears misplaced and amounts to dressing him in borrowed robes.

“The former president must begin to understand that the measure of a leader’s piety and integrity is in deeds and conduct and not in his claims and rhetoric. It is these kinds of claims in the past which led to the mistaken apotheosis of General Buhari and the building of the myth of his unequalled competence and other leadership traits which unfortunately have not come to the fore.

“As is the norm here, he is not expected to be called to account, but he has to prepare to account to God Almighty. He will be called to render an account to Him on how he governed.

“God already knows what he, his immediate and extended family are worth, both before and after his Presidency. There is the day of judgment and all of us will be present.

“In the assessment of President Buhari’s fight against corruption, I call on the respected Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Chief Femi Falana as witnesses. Bishop Kukah opined that “Buhari’s government amplified corruption morally and financially,” while Chief Femi Falana said “Corruption waxed stronger under Buhari.

“These views are shared by most Nigerians. The moral corruption Bishop Kukah must be referring to is President Buhari’s elevation of personal interest over national interest.

“Consider, for example, the siting of over 20 major Federal Government projects in the President’s hometown, Daura. Senior members, including ministers and military Service Chiefs, engaged in very embarrassing and unethical acts to appease and ingratiate themselves with the president by gifting him projects from their ministries, departments, agencies and services.

“These were accepted with gratitude. Someone correctly observed that Daura is sinking under the weight of democratic dividends. It was at the height of ethical and moral corruption that Buhari accepted a gift of an Air Force Reference Hospital from his Chief of Air Staff when Daura did not even have a landing strip.

“The rail line from Kano to Maradi was only approved because it passes through Daura and not for any socio-economic value. It ranks lowest in the nation’s infrastructural priorities. Less so that it is being financed with a $1.9 billion Chinese loan. This project must be discontinued. Work so far done should remain a monument of corruption.

“The two federal roads leading to Daura from Kano and Katsina are being dualised, while all roads leading to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are yet to be completed.

“The Lagos-Ibadan expressway connecting the North with the two South Western ports is still under construction. Construction of the East-West Coastal highway has been abandoned. The second Niger Bridge remains uncompleted even though it was commissioned by the Buhari administration.

“General Buhari’s decision to relocate to Daura from Kaduna must be on account of Daura being more urbanised and secure than Kaduna.

“Not a few Nigerians were shocked when an Army University was cited in Biu, the Local Government headquarters of General Buhari’s Chief of Army Staff. The officer was simply emulating or to use military parlance, taking dressing from his C-in-C.

“The question is, why does the Nigerian Army need a university when the Nigerian Defence Academy is a degree-awarding institution and its rank and file are being accommodated in civil institutions?” he said.