Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has urged Nigerian leaders to pay close attention to the wave of harsh and emotional reactions that followed the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a critical reflection of the public’s growing intolerance for failed leadership.
In a post shared on his verified social media handle, Sani described the responses from Nigerians as raw, bitter, and deeply personal, stressing that this generation is “unforgiving in their souls.”
“The present and future crop of Nigerian leaders should take lessons from the wave of unrefined emotions of Nigerians in the last 48 hours. A new generation of retributive citizens has evolved: unrestrained in their anger, unfiltered in their bitterness, and unforgiving in their souls,” he wrote.
The former senator’s comments come amid a flurry of emotional reactions online, with many Nigerians refusing to mourn the late president. Instead, they have taken to social media to revisit the painful realities of his administration — including economic hardship, insecurity, and alleged human rights abuses.
One viral video features a Nigerian woman — reportedly from the North — who openly declared she felt no sadness upon hearing of Buhari’s death. She cited years of personal and economic hardship, saying:
“Since he became president, my life never returned to normal. His children became successful, but people like me, the poor, suffered most. I cannot and will not forgive him.”
The 2015 Zaria massacre, in which dozens of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) were killed during a military operation, has also resurfaced in the national discourse. Journalist Saifullahi M. Kabir shared a series of Facebook posts naming young students and religious leaders allegedly killed during the crackdown, accusing Buhari’s administration of failing to ensure justice or proper burial according to Islamic rites.
“Fatima Ali Munjibir, Nusaiba Yakubu Zurmi, Fatima Isa Waziri… these were students and leaders killed under his regime. Their bodies were never recovered,” he wrote.
The intensity of these reactions, Shehu Sani argues, reflects a shift in how Nigerians now engage with their leaders — both past and present. For a long time, criticisms of leaders were often muted, especially after their death. That time, Sani suggests, is over.
“This new generation is no longer interested in suppressing their grievances. Leaders must govern with fairness and accountability — or face the wrath of a nation that remembers,” he warned.
