The “born-again” politician

In a paradox of history, the former general who overthrew the government embodies an astonishing democratic renewal. Portrait, investigation and prospects.

Portraits of Buhari are all over Lagos, where singing, dancing young Yorubas chant “Baba” (“father”) in reference to their hero of the day, Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s new president, who was elected on 28 March. They also shout “Change!”, their new mantra, as though they have finally found the magic formula to transform everything in their lives and those of other Nigerians. The sentimental image of this humble man who has had 10 children with his two wives reassures them. Born into a poor family in Katsina State (North), the retired general is the youngest of 23 brothers and sisters. He barely knew his father, who died when he was three. A simple villager from Daura brought up his mother, he rose to the top thanks to the army, which has always been Nigeria’s social ladder, especially for northerners.

Those old enough to remember cannot help smiling. Early in the campaign, who would have thought that a 72-year-old general, and former dictator at that, would be the face of change? Until this election, the ascetic-looking Wolof was a prominent symbol of the military dictatorship; nobody expected to see him back. He was Nigeria’s strongman before the young people who celebrated his victory were even born. Now that the democracy that had been restored in 1999 was firmly rooted, they never imagined seeing a general in power. Buhari had already run for president three times, in 2003, 2007 and 2011, losing to Goodluck Jonathan in the previous election. Most observers had forecast the same outcome this time: an incumbent president had never been beaten at the ballot box. What’s more, Jonathan had a big war chest in a country where politics is traditionally and mainly about money. “Voters took the money but didn’t follow instructions on whom to cast their ballots for,” says Biola Fatunde, a young executive in a legal company. “That’s the big change.”

In December 1983, Buhari overthrew President Shehu Shagari, who had been democratically elected four years earlier. The general immediately declared a War Against Indiscipline. It was not just a politician’s empty slogan. As soon as Buhari took power, he cut the budget by 15% compared to the previous year. Accusing his predecessor of corruption, he said “if Nigerians want to avoid coups, all they have to do is pick decent leaders”.

Military discipline

The War Against Indiscipline involved everybody. Travellers waiting for buses had to queue up single-file. Every bus stop was under surveillance by whip-wielding soldiers; anybody who stepped out of line promptly received lashes to teach them a lesson. Employees who showed up late for work had to play leapfrog in their office. Worse, hundreds of thousands of immigrants from bordering countries were militarily expelled under the pretext of an economic crisis. Thousands of civil servants and businessmen accused of corruption were jailed without charges and the army’s highest-ranking officers were forced into retirement, even those who were not yet 40. Opponents and journalists vanished; a law curbing freedom of the press was passed. Espousing economic “nationalism”, Buhari severely curtailed imports and launched the slogan, “self-sufficiency whatever the cost”.