Josef Onoh, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), criticized former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office, describing them as marked by widespread corruption and insecurity.
His comments came in response to Buhari’s claim that his tenure saw significant improvements in Nigeria’s security and economy.
Buhari had argued that he inherited an economic crisis and security challenges from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that his government successfully addressed them.
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However, Onoh refuted this, stating that under Buhari’s leadership, Nigeria experienced severe economic decline, corruption, and escalating insecurity.
He asserted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is now grappling with the repercussions of Buhari’s economic mismanagement.
Onoh pointed out that during Buhari’s presidency, deaths from violence surged dramatically, with over 98,000 people killed.
He compared this to the situation before Buhari took office, where fewer than 35,000 deaths had been recorded.
He argued that Nigeria’s level of insecurity during Buhari’s tenure surpassed even that of the Civil War period, citing figures of thousands killed each year during his administration.
Additionally, Onoh noted that Nigeria’s rankings in global indices worsened under Buhari’s watch, such as the country being ranked third in the Global Terrorism Index and 148th in the Global Peace Index.
He claimed that ethnic and religious conflicts were mishandled, and security failures allowed violence to spread unchecked.
Onoh also criticized Buhari’s handling of the economy, pointing out that insecurity hindered business growth and foreign investment, especially in regions like the North East, where markets were abandoned due to Boko Haram insurgency.
He emphasized that the legacy of Buhari’s government had a lasting negative impact on Nigeria’s global reputation and its economic prospects.
Lastly, Onoh mocked the Buhari administration’s alleged favoritism and nepotism, suggesting that its legacy was one of insecurity, corruption, and the rise of controversial figures.
