The political beginning and end of history, by Shehu Musa Kolere
Late President Muhammadu Buhari like him or not was once a man who carried the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. Today, I find it necessary to eulogize him by sharing how my journey with him began.
As an undergraduate student back then, I was full of energy and deeply concerned about the future of our country. Fresh out of school, we were disillusioned by the state of the education sector, the economy, and the pervasive political instability.
The call for change and the search for good leadership echoed across every nook and cranny of Nigeria. It was a time marked by religious and regional crises that nearly tore the nation apart countless lives were lost from Jos to Kaduna, Ketu to Zaki Biam.
It was also a period plagued by the rise of political militias and non-state actors like MOSOP, OPC, Sara Suka, and ECOMOG, who contributed to violence and lawlessness under the guise of political activism. The collapse of many banks and industries became all too common, with their closures seen as inevitable.
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Technological stagnation was evident, especially in critical sectors like oil and gas. Politically, the era was defined by self-interest and exclusion, a troubling pattern that left many of us with growing concern.
It was against this backdrop that, after thoughtful deliberation, we formed the Foundation for Future Generation a broad-based organization dedicated to identifying and supporting the kind of leadership the nation so desperately needed.
It was in that spirit that our foundation paid a visit to General Muhammadu Buhari. As the secretary of the foundation, history granted me the privilege of being part of the team that engaged him on these pressing national issues.
I can say with confidence that our foundation was among the few early groups that encouraged him to join the political space, urging him to contest for the presidency. The rest, as they say, is history.
Our first meeting with GMB was in 2002, followed by others that eventually led to his decision to contest under the All People’s Party (APP). I am proud to have been a part of that journey, even though I later left the country for postgraduate studies before the 2007 elections.
Upon returning briefly, I rejoined the groundwork and political engagements in support of his presidential ambition. But my pursuit of self-development led me abroad again in the early days of his first term in office in 2015.
I will remember him as a man of discipline, honesty, and a deep love for Nigeria. During our engagements with him, I witnessed his frugality and personal simplicity firsthand. He was one of the finest soldiers to have served this nation not only as Head of State but also as a civilian president who gave his best to the service of the country until his passing on Sunday, 12th July 2025.
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