Buhari: ‘A man called upon to be a hawk must catch chickens’

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Muhammadu Buhari, who will be sworn in on Friday as Nigeria’s new president, is a one-time coup leader who once ruled Africa’s most populous nation with an iron fist.

But he has undergone a remarkable transformation from military general to as he calls it a “converted democrat” whom many see as the solution to Nigeria’s many problems.

His election victory over President Goodluck Jonathan two months ago was the first time power had changed hands to an opposition party at the ballot box in Nigeria’s turbulent political history.

Yet commentators say he will still need to delve into his army past to tackle rampant corruption, Boko Haram security concerns and economic troubles over the next four years.

“For him to succeed in tackling these knotty problems, he will need to behave like a dictator in spite of the constitution, ignore criticisms and keep abay sycophants,” said one former army officer who took part in Nigeria’s first military coup in 1966.

“This is the time for him to bear his fangs against graft,” added social commentator Tokede Williams. “A man called upon to be a hawk must catch chickens.”

– Past versus present –

Buhari, 72, has already pledged the corrupt and corruption will have no part in his administration and that he intends to lead by example.

Unusually for a Nigerian leader, he did not accumulate much in the way of spoils during his 20 months in charge of a military regime from December 1983.

The devout Muslim, who has had to fend off claims from opponents that he is a religious zealot, is known to have only one simple bungalow in Daura, his home town in the northern state of Katsina.

He also took out a bank loan to pay the 27.5-million-naira ($136,000, 123,000 euro) fee just to contest for the presidential ticket for his All Progressives Congress (APC) party.

In office, his conduct will be closely watched for signs of excesses from his previous time in power that notably saw a crackdown on “indiscipline” and corruption.

Critics of the regime and political opponents were thrown in jail, including the Afro-beat music legend Fela Kuti, who was known for his outspoken lyrics.

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