• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Umpirenews | Latest News, Politics, Breaking News, Nigeria and African history
Advertisement
  • National
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Columns
No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Columns
No Result
View All Result
Umpirenews | Latest News, Politics, Breaking News, Nigeria and African history
No Result
View All Result

A Democracy Strained: Buhari’s Human Rights Record and the Repression of Dissent

Odini Brains by Odini Brains
July 15, 2025
in Columns
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0
A Democracy Strained: Buhari’s Human Rights Record and the Repression of Dissent
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsappShare on EmailShare on Telegram

Memory is a sketch artist, not a mirror—what it draws is shaped as much by time as by truth.”

In the wake of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s death, we’re witnessing the familiar dance of remembrance eulogies casting long shadows of praise, sometimes glossing over complexities that once dominated public discourse. It’s a reminder that human memory is rarely a faithful archivist; it edits, softens, reframes. The same voices that once held Buhari to account now pen tributes dipped in nostalgia. But as the eulogies fly left, right and center, I looked in the rearview mirror and I saw young Nigerians in the sweltering October heat of 2020. I saw young Nigerians across cities as they poured into the streets with a simple demand: #EndSARS. Their placards spoke of years of unchecked police brutality, their chants echoed a longing for dignity, and their hope rested on the promise of democracy. But on the night of October 20 at Lekki Toll Gate, bullets met banners, and the Nigerian state, under President Muhammadu Buhari, revealed a darker face of its governance.

That night was not just a turning point in Nigeria’s protest history; it was the climax of a long, painful erosion of human rights under Buhari’s watch. Now, as political sycophants rush to sanitize his legacy in death, we must confront the stark truth: Buhari was not just a failed president; he may well have been the worst president Nigeria has ever had.

The Repression of Dissent

“A true democracy must be built on dialogue and compromise,” Nelson Mandela once said. But Buhari’s government seemed more invested in silencing voices than hearing them. From journalists imprisoned for critical reporting to peaceful protesters teargassed and arrested, the state apparatus under Buhari became allergic to scrutiny.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, documented numerous violations. The government’s playbook included unlawful detentions, harassment of opposition figures, restrictions on press freedom, and the use of anti-terror laws to muzzle critics.

Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate, was arrested in 2019 for calling for a peaceful protest. His crime? Demanding better governance. Even media houses were not spared. Channels TV faced threats over interviews that did not sit well with the Buhari’s administration. In Buhari’s Nigeria, free speech became a threat to national security.

Under Buhari, insecurity metastasized. Boko Haram retained its grip in the northeast. Bandits roamed the northwest, turning schools into abduction zones. But perhaps the most damning chapter was the emboldening of Fulani herdsmen.

From Benue to Plateau, communities were razed, farmers murdered, and families displaced by herdsmen wielding AK-47s. Yet the Buhari administration consistently downplayed these atrocities. Where was the outrage? Where was the action?

Instead of addressing the root causes, the government gaslit the victims and defended the attackers. President Buhari, himself of Fulani heritage, was accused of turning a blind eye to ethnic violence that disproportionately affected Christian farming communities. The result? Deepening distrust, regional animosity, and a slow-burning national fracture.

Now, in the wake of his death, a parade of political opportunists has emerged to rewrite history. They speak of Buhari as a “disciplinarian,” a “man of integrity,” even a “patriot.”

But integrity is not measured by rhetorics; it is tested by action. And by that measure, Buhari failed. Catastrophically.

It is dangerous for a nation to glorify failure. We must resist the collective amnesia that turns tragedy into triumph and repression into remembrance. As George Orwell warned, “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”

In every democracy, leadership is judged not by comfort but by crisis. Buhari faced multiple crises—economic, security, social—and mishandled them all. His presidency left Nigeria weaker, poorer, more divided, and less free.

We owe it to the victims of Lekki tollgate, to the kidnapped schoolchildren, to the displaced families of Benue, and to the millions crushed under inflation, to tell the truth: Buhari’s presidency was not a model of democratic governance; it was a cautionary tale.

As Nigeria prepares for future leadership, may we remember this era not with romanticism, but with resolve—to never again hand power to a man whose silence spoke louder than action, and whose shadow loomed longer than his service.

Let history record it clearly: Muhammadu Buhari strained our democracy, bruised our freedoms, and betrayed the very people he vowed to protect.

Odini Brains

Odini Brains

Related Posts

The Rise And Fall Of Sports Institute, Isaka
Columns

The Rise And Fall Of Sports Institute, Isaka

2 days ago
Tribute to Old Port Harcourt Boy (Peter Rufai)
Columns

Tribute to Old Port Harcourt Boy (Peter Rufai)

1 month ago
El-Rufai Plans New Party as ADC Backup Against APC Interference
Columns

The Shadow Strategist: El-Rufai, the Illusion of Power, and 2027’s Looming Reckoning

2 months ago
Columns

Kidnapped, Silenced, Vindicated: The Full Impact of Kanu’s Judgment

2 months ago

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

NATIONS NEWS

Peter Obi, El-Rufai Granted Waiver Ahead 2027 Election
National

Declare emergency in Katsina, Zamfara over killings —ADC tells Tinubu

17 hours ago
Benue assembly speaker resigns, suspended lawmaker elected new speaker
National

Benue assembly speaker resigns, suspended lawmaker elected new speaker

18 hours ago
Peter Obi Can Return to PDP Without Wike Obstruction – Jacob Mark
National

PDP NEC to receive zoning report today as convention crisis deepens

18 hours ago
INEC Receives 110 Applications from Associations Seeking Registration as Political Parties Ahead of 2027 Elections(see list)
National

Hitches in by-election results in 12 states spark renewed calls on next INEC Chairman

1 day ago
Tinubu nominates 39-year old Abdullahi Ramat as new NERC Chairman
National

2027: Tinubu will retain seat as President even if new INEC chairman’s son contests – APC

1 day ago
Civil society organisations commend interpol’s rejection of EFCC `wantedʼ declaration of Bashir Haske
National

Civil society organisations commend interpol’s rejection of EFCC `wantedʼ declaration of Bashir Haske

1 day ago

POLITICS

Governors’ political meeting at scene of mass murder insensitive — ADC faults Zamfara PDP meeting

Governors’ political meeting at scene of mass murder insensitive — ADC faults Zamfara PDP meeting

18 hours ago
Peter Obi, El-Rufai Granted Waiver Ahead 2027 Election

No one can hijack Abia ADC won’t succeed – suspended ADC ex-Chair, Obinna

1 day ago
2027: Why Peter Obi may return to PDP

2027: PDP moves to exact deterrent on Osun lawmakers for defecting to APC

5 days ago
Nigeria and Brazil to sign MoU on direct flight

APC-PCC members accuse Tinubu of marginalisation over appointments

7 days ago
Seven Akwa Ibom Lawmakers Defect to APC, Citing Party Divisions

Edo APC demands party secretary’s resignation over alleged marginalisation

7 days ago
INEC can’t conduct free, fair election under Tinubu – Buba Galadima

INEC can’t conduct free, fair election under Tinubu – Buba Galadima

7 days ago

YOUR ECONOMY

Manufacturing and agric sectors decline threaten Nigeria’s industrialisation
Economy

Manufacturing and agric sectors decline threaten Nigeria’s industrialisation

17 hours ago
FG launches initiative to cut overhead cost
Economy

FG launches initiative to cut overhead cost

4 days ago
Grant tax relief to media houses —Ex-NNPCL spokesman tells FG
Economy

Grant tax relief to media houses —Ex-NNPCL spokesman tells FG

6 days ago
Rice farmers blame middlemen for continuous price hike
Economy

Rice farmers blame middlemen for continuous price hike

1 week ago
Naira appreciates against dollar on the weekend
Economy

Naira appreciates against dollar on the weekend

1 week ago
Largest shea butter refinery in Africa begins operation in Niger State
Economy

Largest shea butter refinery in Africa begins operation in Niger State

2 weeks ago

E & P

The Rise And Fall Of Sports Institute, Isaka
Columns

The Rise And Fall Of Sports Institute, Isaka

by Tammy Opoki
2 days ago
0

The quest to develop sports at the grassroots level in Nigeria necessitated the conversion of Government Sea School, Isaka, in...

KTF Launches Free Youth Tennis Clinic in Port Harcourt

KTF Launches Free Youth Tennis Clinic in Port Harcourt

1 week ago
‘It’s a shame’ – Ex-Newcastle striker, Andy Carroll blasts Isak over transfer move

‘It’s a shame’ – Ex-Newcastle striker, Andy Carroll blasts Isak over transfer move

1 week ago
NPFL Suspends S’Eagles Goalkeeper Over Betting Allegations

NPFL Suspends S’Eagles Goalkeeper Over Betting Allegations

2 weeks ago
CAF Ranking: Rivers United Emerged Top club in Nigeria

CAF Ranking: Rivers United Emerged Top club in Nigeria

2 weeks ago
National Youth Games: NSC  Give Asaba Facilities  Pass Mark, Confirms Date

National Youth Games: NSC  Give Asaba Facilities  Pass Mark, Confirms Date

2 weeks ago

YOUR THOUGHT & HISTORY

The Rise And Fall Of Sports Institute, Isaka
Columns

The Rise And Fall Of Sports Institute, Isaka

by Tammy Opoki
2 days ago
Tribute to Old Port Harcourt Boy (Peter Rufai)
Columns

Tribute to Old Port Harcourt Boy (Peter Rufai)

by Tammy Opoki
1 month ago
A Democracy Strained: Buhari’s Human Rights Record and the Repression of Dissent
Columns

A Democracy Strained: Buhari’s Human Rights Record and the Repression of Dissent

by Odini Brains
1 month ago
El-Rufai Plans New Party as ADC Backup Against APC Interference
Columns

The Shadow Strategist: El-Rufai, the Illusion of Power, and 2027’s Looming Reckoning

by Odini Brains
2 months ago
Columns

Kidnapped, Silenced, Vindicated: The Full Impact of Kanu’s Judgment

by Odini Brains
2 months ago

Who we are

Umpirenews | Latest News, Politics, Breaking News, Nigeria and African history

Welcome to Umpire News, your go-to online newspaper dedicated to broadening perspectives and expanding the horizons of our numerous readers. Read more

Browse by Category

  • Columns
  • Economy
  • Editorial
  • Entertainment
  • International
  • National
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Trends

Recent News

Manufacturing and agric sectors decline threaten Nigeria’s industrialisation

Manufacturing and agric sectors decline threaten Nigeria’s industrialisation

August 25, 2025
Peter Obi, El-Rufai Granted Waiver Ahead 2027 Election

Declare emergency in Katsina, Zamfara over killings —ADC tells Tinubu

August 25, 2025
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Copyright Umpirenews. All rights reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Columns

© 2024 Copyright Umpirenews. All rights reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
🤑Join & Get Our Easter Gifts 🤑

Enter your NAME & Email NOW!!

Be among the 1st 100 lucky WINNERS to win our Amazing GIFTs this Easter Period as you READ our Daily hot NEWs & make meaningful comments and follow us on our social media handles.

Name
Enter your email address