Will Nigeria’s new president, Muhammadu Buhari, be able to bring stability to a country crippled by terrorism and a corrupt government?
Muhammadu Buhari, a former general, who came to power in Nigeria in 1983 via a military coup and was ousted by another military coup two years later in 1985, beat out President Goodluck Jonathon in Nigeria’s 2015 presidential election. One of the first good signs for the country, is that President Jonathon is going to hand over power to Buhari without a struggle, making Muhammadu Buhari, the first Nigerian politician to succeed a sitting leader by ballot.
The difference between Buhari now, and his days as a militaristic head of state, is that he is now a democrat and a lot more level headed. With that said, his past leadership is a big reason for him being elected.
Buhari’s stance against corruption within the government is much needed in a country that dismissed the governor of the central bank for reporting that anywhere from 10-21 billion dollars in oil revenue owed to the Central Bank was missing last year. Buhari, has a no nonsense approach when it comes to corrupt leaders and his military background make him the perfect candidate to rid the country of the militant terrorist group, Boko Haram, who has killed thousands of Nigerians.
Muhammadu Buhari has given Nigeria much needed hope going into the future. All eyes will be on Africa’s largest economy as well as the African continents most populated country over the next few years to see if that hope can translate into prosperity.