By Hon. Kenneth Gbandi
With all his complexity, convictions, and enduring persona, President Muhammadu Buhari represented not just the Nigeria of his time, but a Nigeria that still struggles to be, a country yearning for discipline in governance, fairness in justice, and accountability in public life. It is no surprise, then, that nostalgia for these ideals brought him back for a second political missionary journey, reflecting a national desire to rediscover purpose and reestablish trust in leadership.
His second coming coincided with the height of my own service to Nigeria through diaspora leadership. It offered a unique opportunity for me to engage more closely with the administration, particularly on issues affecting over 30 million Nigerians in the diaspora, one of the most educated, innovative, and economically influential diaspora communities globally. In fairness and with gratitude, President Buhari’s administration made genuine efforts to harness this untapped human capital. This intent was institutionalized when he signed the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Act, 2017, a pivotal step toward giving the diaspora a voice in shaping the nation’s destiny. This Act was a direct response to longstanding concerns over the treatment of Nigerians abroad, and the need to reposition Nigeria’s global image.
Through NiDCOM, the President sought to integrate Nigerians in the diaspora into the nation’s policy, economic, and development agenda, recognizing that this community holds a vital key to Nigeria’s socio-political transformation.
Though not without his critics, President Buhari’s place in Nigeria’s history is indelible. From military service to democratic leadership, he served with a vision for a disciplined and upright society, however contested or constrained in execution that vision may have been. I pray that history will judge him kindly, acknowledging both the intent and the effort behind his mission for a better Nigeria.
May Allah grant his soul eternal rest and may the nation he served both in and out of uniform continue on the path of renewal, with the positive seeds he planted taking deeper roots in our collective journey.
Hon. Kenneth Gbandi; Continental Chairman CEC & Board of Trustees, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (2016–2020); President, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Germany (2013–2016) Deputy National Chairman, Diaspora Engagement, African Democratic Congress
