A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Josef Onoh, has strongly criticized former President Muhammadu Buhari’s assessment of his administration, arguing that his tenure was marred by corruption and insecurity.
In a statement on Friday, February 7, Onoh dismissed Buhari’s claims of improved security and economic progress, asserting that his eight-year administration left Nigeria worse off.
“Nigerians today accuse Tinubu’s administration of being the worst they have experienced without realizing that the President is silently carrying the burden of the economic mess left behind by the Buhari government,” Onoh said.
He cited statistics indicating a significant rise in violence and insecurity under Buhari, stating that Nigeria’s death toll from conflicts and attacks increased dramatically during his presidency.
“Under Buhari’s watch, the death toll rose from 34,972 before he took office to 98,083 by May 2023. These figures clearly show that his administration failed in securing the country,” he claimed.
Onoh also pointed to Nigeria’s poor rankings in global security and economic indices, arguing that the country became one of the most terrorized nations in the world during Buhari’s rule.
“In 2019, Nigeria ranked third in the Global Terrorism Index, just behind Afghanistan and Iraq. Our country was also placed among the most fragile states globally. These are not achievements to be proud of,” he added.
Beyond security concerns, Onoh criticized Buhari’s handling of the economy, stating that insecurity drove away foreign investments and crippled key industries.
He also took a swipe at the alleged corruption under Buhari’s administration, referencing financial scandals and cases of mismanagement.
“The Buhari government introduced ‘Ranka ya Dede Nepotism.’ Today, it’s ‘Emilokan,’ and tomorrow, it might be something else. But the truth remains that Buhari’s eight years in office were marked by insecurity and corruption on an unprecedented scale,” Onoh concluded.