Buhari’s Integrity Was A Myth Sold To Nigerians – Sowore
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has described the image of former President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of integrity as one of the biggest propaganda campaigns ever sold to Nigerians.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Sowore said the perception of Buhari as a disciplined and incorruptible leader was deliberately manufactured to facilitate his return to power in 2015.
“Absolutely not,” Sowore replied when asked if Buhari left a legacy of integrity.
“The myth of Buhari’s integrity was one of the most dangerous propaganda projects ever sold to the people. For decades, a carefully curated image of a disciplined, incorruptible soldier-statesman was peddled, essentially to justify his return to power in 2015. But the reality, as Nigerians experienced it, was entirely different. Buhari didn’t just fail the integrity test; he also shattered it.”
Sowore accused the late president of enabling corruption during his tenure.
“Under his watch, corruption was not only tolerated but institutionalised. Individuals under investigation or with established records of theft and abuse of office found refuge within his cabinet. His government protected some of the most corrupt figures in Nigerian history.”
He also dismissed Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign as a charade.
“There was no war. There was no battle, just propaganda. Buhari’s so-called anti-corruption campaign was selective, vindictive, and deeply hypocritical. His friends and cronies were protected. His political enemies were hunted. That’s not a fight against corruption; it was a weaponisation of anti-graft rhetoric.”
He added that Buhari’s administration left institutions weaker than it met them.
“Even the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission lost credibility under him.”
Sowore cited major scandals that tainted Buhari’s administration.
“Major scandals like the Maina pension case, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company contracts, and his Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, were openly and brazenly accused of corruption. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s opaque operations under Godwin Emefiele were swept under the rug until Buhari left office. He enabled corruption on a scale so vast that it will take generations to fully trace.
“So no, he didn’t fight corruption. He fertilised it,” he added.
Sowore concluded that Buhari’s record was enough indictment and warned against attempts to whitewash his legacy.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
