Nigerian Renewal

On May 29, 2015, former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari, 72, was sworn in as the new president of Nigeria. Buhari, a member of the All Progressives Congress party, replaced incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he defeated in a March 28 election. As Buhari took office, Nigeria faced a number of challenges, including political corruption and shortages of electric power. Deadly attacks by Boko Haram, a terrorist organization that supports Muslim extremists in Nigeria, have also plagued the nation. During his inaugural speech in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, Buhari called Boko Haram “a mindless, godless group, who are as far away from Islam as one can think.”

New Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari salutes his supporters during his inauguration in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. AP Photo/Sunday Alamba

The inauguration took place with much fanfare in Abuja’s central Eagle Square. Nigerian flags flew among the flags of dozens of other nations, and soldiers marched smartly before giant posters of Buhari and his running mate, former law professor Yemi Osinbajo. Red carpets and floral arrangements contrasted with the barbed wire, barricades, and intense security surrounding Eagle Square. Many high-level dignitaries attended the event, including South African President Jacob Zuma and United States Secretary of State John Kerry. The peaceful transition of power came as a great relief in Nigeria, where elections often result in violence.

On Dec. 31, 1983, Buhari, then a major general in the Nigerian Army, led a coup that ousted President Shehu Shagari, and Buhari took dictatorial powers. His regime, noted for its strict policies and human rights abuses, was itself overthrown in August 1985. Military rule in Nigeria ended in 1999.

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Tags: abuja, boko haram, goodluck jonathan, inauguration, muhammadu buhari, nigeria, nigerian elections, nigerian president, shehu shagari, Terrorism, yemi osinbajo

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