Nigeria: Buhari’s Victory in Nigerian Election Has Global Significance

Nigeria experienced its first peaceful and democratic transfer of power to an opposition candidates with the victory of Muhammadu Buhari. Voters and global onlookers expect a hard stance on corruption, terrorism and poverty. “Inexplicably, Africa's largest armed force, which has been given enormous financial outlays, has not been able to subdue a ragtag militia,” writes Richard Joseph in an opinion essay for The Conversation US. “A Nigerian constitutional democracy, led by a former military dictator and avowed supporter of Shari'a law, will be a powerful counterpoint to the autocratic upswing symbolized by Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.” Nigeria is roughly 50 percent Muslim and 40 percent Christian. It’s also Africa’s largest oil producer and a major exporter of natural gas, yet much wealth has been squandered with regional political patronage. Joseph explains that Buhari took power in 1983 in a coup targeting corruption; after 1985, he led on a number of development project, including as chair of the country’s Petroleum Trust Fund. He must now tackle multiple challenges including “the Boko Haram atrocities, the sharp decline of oil income, missing billions in government revenue and two-thirds of the population mired in poverty.” – YaleGlobal