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Where are they? Five most powerful persons of the Buhari era
On May 29, 2023, Former President Muhammadu Buhari handed over the reins of power to his successor, President Bola Tinubu, ending his eight-year rule as the head of Nigeria.
Buhari was surrounded by powerful people during his administration, many of whom were integral to his projects, policies, and political strategies. His relatives, aides, ministers, governors, and senators were among them.
Tunde Sabiu: One of the most powerful and divisive individuals in the presidency was President Buhari's personal assistant and nephew. He was charged with having undue influence over the president and being involved in a number of dubious contracts and deals.
In addition, he was given a suspicious and infuriating appointment as an assistant director at the National Intelligence Agency. Following Buhari's resignation, Sabiu was detained and accused of possessing a shotgun and hundreds of cartridges without authorization. Despite being given bail, the secret police had him taken into custody again outside of the court. His trial is still in progress.
Godwin Emefiele: One of Buhari's most enduring and influential appointees was the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He oversaw an interventionist monetary policy that pumped billions of dollars into the foreign exchange market to support the naira.
Additionally, he instituted a system of multiple exchange rates to conceal the pressure on the naira and prevent devaluations. On June 9, 2023, President Tinubu suspended him. Folashodun Shonubi, a former CBN deputy governor, took his place.
In addition, Emefiele was charged with procurement fraud and placed on remand in prison; the scheme involved giving contracts valued at over N500 billion to businesses connected to him and his associates. However, on January 8, 2024, a court in Abuja ruled against his re-arrest and fined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission N100 million for his extended incarceration without charge.
Ibikunle Amosun: A two-term senator and former governor of Ogun State, Amosun was a staunch ally of Buhari's. In the elections of 2015 and 2019, he played a crucial role in helping the APC win the southwest region. Additionally, he started and completed a number of Ogun State infrastructure projects, including hospitals, schools, bridges, and roads.
He returned to the Senate in 2019 to serve as the senator for Ogun Central District after serving his second term as governor. Additionally, the Senate Committee on Capital Markets appointed him as its chairman.
Among Buhari's cabinet members who was most devoted and outspoken was Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State and minister of transportation. Along with the growth of the maritime and aviation industries, he was in charge of revitalising and growing Nigeria's rail system. In 2015 and 2019, he served as the director-general of Buhari's campaign organisation. He was also a prominent member of the All Progressive Congress.
In 2022, he left his position as minister to run for president under the APC. He lost to Tinubu in the party's primaries, coming in second. He represents the Rivers East district in the Senate and is currently the leader of the opposition. In addition, he is a law student at the University of Port Harcourt.