How Buhari Eroded His 2015 Base, Reelection Bid On A Cliffhanger

President Buhari

However, nearly four years since he became president, his large flock of followers and admirers has dwindled tremendously, posing a clear and present danger to the prospects of his re-election.

His most potent unique selling point, the claim of integrity, was out of synch with the realities on ground. His anti- corruption rhetoric appeared designed for his political opponents only rather than being an article of faith he had touted it to be. His associates enjoyed a different set of rules that shielded them from the law. The barely disguised pampering of Babachir Lawal, erstwhile Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Governor of Kano state, Ganduje episode among many others were enough to reveal his flinching commitment to the anti-corruption war.

Having proclaimed that he had become a reformed democrat, Buhari’s serial disregard for court judgements and disdain for rule of law came as a huge embarrassment to the intellectual segment of his admirers in 2015. Although he has repeatedly weaved the story of having supervised the “sharing” $2 billion allocated for prosecuting the war against Boko Haram, he has been unable to prosecute Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser, in court. Rather, the administration has flouted several court rulings granting bail to Dasuki.

However, it is the economy and formulation of policies to chart a fresh course for the development that has proved his most spectacular Achilles Heel. The absence of a discernible policy direction for growing the economy has alienated the business class and left the economy rudderless. The net effect is that unemployment grew exponentially to over 20 million while the country has officially taken over the mantle of being the poverty capital of the world.

Rather than reel out achievements as he is seeking re-election, Buhari has been at pains explaining how he has impacted on the quality of life of the people in the past four years.

With major international agencies who have weighed in on the election giving the call to Atiku Abubakar, Buhari’s main challenger and flagbearer of the PDP, Nigeria may be primed for a change in the tenant residing in Aso Rock Villa.