Once more, Reno Omokri has gone off his rocker in trying to prove that his boss, former President Goodluck Jonathan, handed over a better country to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who made it worse. As usual, he reeled off seemingly impressive statistics that, upon closer examination, proved, as usual, to be half-truths, misinformation, disinformation, and sometimes outright falsehoods.
So, let's take up the gauntlet, as he's fond of challenging us to fact-check him, and fact-check his claims to see how far they'll stand under closer scrutiny.
This fact-check is based on data from reputable organizations including the World Bank, Debt Management Office of Nigeria, Human Rights Watch, Global Terrorism Index, and Nigerian government sources.
Fact-Check: Did Buhari Leave Northern Nigeria Worse Than He Met It?
Claim by Reno Omokri:
Former President Muhammadu Buhari left Northern Nigeria worse than he met it in 2015, with rising insecurity, economic decline, and emboldened terrorists. Omokri contrasts this with what he claims was relative peace and prosperity under President Goodluck Jonathan.
Verdict: Partly True.
While many of the issues highlighted worsened under Buhari, some of the claims about the Jonathan era are inaccurate, misleading, or lack context. A balanced examination of security and economic data reveals a more complex picture.
Claim 1: No part of Nigeria was occupied by Boko Haram in May 2015.
Rating: False.
Facts:
When Buhari took office in May 2015, Boko Haram still controlled or heavily influenced at least 14 local government areas in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
Source: Amnesty International, U.S. State Department Reports (2014–2015)
Claim 2: There was no banditry and no warlords like Kachalla Ali Kawaje or Bello Turji.
Rating: Misleading.
Facts:
Banditry in the Northwest, particularly in Zamfara and Katsina, began before Buhari took office. However, the scale, sophistication, and impunity of these groups increased significantly during his tenure, giving rise to notorious leaders like Turji and Boderi.
Source: International Crisis Group, SBM Intelligence Reports
Claim 3: No massacres occurred in Southern Kaduna before 2015.
Rating: False.
Facts:
Southern Kaduna has a long history of ethnoreligious violence. In 2014 alone, over 100 people were killed in Kaura and Sanga LGAs. Violence in the region intensified post-2015 but did not begin under Buhari.
Source: Human Rights Watch, Vanguard (2014)
Claim 4: Shiites were at peace and farmer-herder clashes were minimal.
Rating: Misleading.
Facts:
Shiite group IMN had a tense relationship with Nigerian authorities before 2015. The Zaria Massacre in December 2015, where over 300 members were killed, was a key escalation.
Farmer-herder clashes were already deadly pre-2015; in 2014, over 1,200 deaths were attributed to Fulani herders.
Source: Global Terrorism Index 2014, Amnesty International
Claim 5: Per capita income was $2,679.55 and foreign debt $12 billion in 2015.
Rating: Mostly True.
Facts:
GDP per capita in 2015: $2,655 (World Bank)
Foreign debt in 2015: $10.3 billion (Debt Management Office)
These figures are close to what was stated, though slightly inflated.
Claim 6: Per capita income fell below $2,000 and foreign debt rose to $52 billion by 2023.
Rating: Mostly True.
Facts:
GDP per capita by 2023 dropped to approximately $2,000.
External debt by mid-2023: $41.69 billion. Total public debt (including domestic): over $100 billion.
Source: World Bank, DMO Nigeria (2023)
Claim 7: Security collapsed under Buhari — Kuje prison, NDA, Kaduna airport, Abuja-Kaduna train.
Rating: True.
Facts:
Between 2021–2022, Nigeria witnessed shocking security breaches:
Kuje prison attack (2022): 879 inmates freed
NDA attack (2021): 2 officers killed, 1 abducted
Kaduna train attack (2022): Dozens killed and abducted
Kaduna airport breached by terrorists
These events underline a severe deterioration in national security.
Sources: Premium Times, BBC, Nigerian Army Statements
Conclusion:
While Omokri is right that security deteriorated under Buhari, his portrayal of the Jonathan era as relatively secure and prosperous lacks nuance. Several security and economic challenges — including Boko Haram insurgency, rural banditry, and Fulani herder violence — predated Buhari. However, the Buhari administration failed to contain or reverse these trends, and in some cases, allowed them to worsen drastically.
Overall Rating: Partly True
So, next time Reno Omokri challenges you to fact-check him, please oblige.
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