-By Austen Akhagbeme:

In retrospect, it is as though President Mohammadu Buhari happened to Nigeria bestriding a trojan horse. This may not truly be the case. So what happened?

Here is a Spartan Army General (arguably among the finest of the northern aristocratic elite class who held sway from yore) feared, revered and ‘pampered’ by the abstract or imaginary invincible political power bloc resident in northern Nigeria and has been a serial contestant for the exalted office yet couldn’t belt the ship of state comfortably in its harbour in eight years.

How does history play fairly with leaders? Does it have to do with the longevity of tenure or impressionable performance or both? What makes some populist leaders live up to their people’s expectations of them and vice-versa?

Buhari’s first advent was brief but tough in all facets and left us with a sour taste of jackboot mercilessness and a no-nonsense mien. Why was he given another opportunity after almost three decades of this nightmare?

The pages of History are replete with men who did their people good and left indelible marks. They are also full of men who did the people much evil and misgovern their collective patrimony to their utmost chagrin.

So which side of History does President Buhari belongs, especially his second advent since 2015? What has the nation experienced under Him that one can nostalgically look backwards to and say kudos?

Is the taciturn General ably misjudged by all who had an axe to grind with him or was his frequent ill health way into the early part of his second advent left him with little or no political sagacity to personally pilot the affairs of state and the reason he governs by proxy almost all the time?

It is said that he did so well in the area of infrastructural development. This is a fact, albeit a contestable one. But the existential threat brought about by insecurity made nonsense of whatever good intentions his infrastructural development hoped to achieve. Only the living enjoys infrastructure. He has promised to leave behind a good legacy in electioneering and elections in Nigeria. We are waiting with bated breath.

• Austen Akhagbeme is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online