Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari ran in the 2015 presidential election as a candidate of the All Progressives Congress party. His platform was built around his image as a staunch anti-corruption fighter with an incorruptible and honest reputation, but he said he would not probe past corrupt leaders and would give officials who stole in the past amnesty if they repented. In the runup to the 2015 election, Jonathan's campaign asked that Buhari be disqualified from the election, claiming that he was in breach of the Constitution. According to the fundamental document, in order to qualify for election to the office of the president, a person must be "educated up to at least School certificate level or its equivalent". Buhari failed to submit any such evidence, claiming that he lost the original copies of his diplomas when his house was raided following his overthrow from power in 1985. In May 2014, in the wake of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, Buhari strongly denounced the Boko Haram insurgency. He "urged Nigerians to put aside religion, politics and all other divisions to crush the insurgency, which he said was fanned by mindless bigots masquerading as Muslims". In July 2014, Buhari escaped a bomb attack on his life by Boko Haram in Kaduna, 82 people were killed. In December 2014, Buhari pledged to enhance security in Nigeria if elected president. After this announcement, Buhari's approval ratings skyrocketed, largely due to Jonathan's apparent inability to fight Boko Haram. Buhari made internal security and wiping out the militant group one of the key pillars of his campaign. In January 2015, the insurgent group "The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta" (MEND) endorsed Buhari. Buhari's campaign was briefly advised by former Obama campaign manager David Axelrod and his AKPD consultancy. In February 2015, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo quit the ruling PDP party and endorsed Buhari. On 31 March, Jonathan called Buhari to concede and congratulate him on his election as president. ==Transition period and inauguration==

ceremony On 17 May 2015, Buhari's campaign spokesperson said that following the inauguration, the President "would simply be addressed as Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." He would also not prefer to be addressed as "Mr., Alhaji or Mallam". Buhari's official portrait was also unveiled on the same day. On 24 May 2015, the All Progressives Congress issued a statement saying that outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan was "handing over a nation in deep crisis" and that there was "no electricity, no fuel, workers are on strike, billions are owed to state and federal workers, $60 billion are owed in national debt and the economy is virtually grounded". On 26 May 2015, the National Union of Nigerian Students issued a statement saying that South African President Jacob Zuma was not welcome due to his "poor handling" of the recent xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in his country. It also stated that there is "no point felicitating with a people who clearly do not matter much to you" and his visit will only amount to pretence. On 27 May 2015, Premium Times reported that the ruling People's Democratic Party had deliberately received the bulk of the 5,000 invitation cards as there were plans to allegedly boo the outgoing president. They also didn't want him to be embarrassed and instead give him a "cheerful exit". Following appeal made by many to probe the outgoing administration, President Jonathan during a valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council, said that any future probe should be "extended beyond [his] administration. Otherwise.. it [would] be witch-hunt". Suleiman Hashimu walked 750 km from Lagos to Abuja, fulfilling a vow that he had made if General Buhari won the presidency. It took him 18 days to walk the route. He had taken with him ₦100,000 ($500) but only spent ₦3,500 as he was catered for by the people along the way. On 29 May 2015, Buhari was sworn in by Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed as the 15th president of Nigeria and 4th president in the forth republic, completing the oath of office at 10:51 AM WAT. Inauguration speech (excerpt) ==Administration==

Economy Treasury single account (TSA) In August 2015, Buhari started the implementation of the TSA. This was done in order to centralise the revenue collection of the various government parastatals. The administration believes that the TSA would help reduce corruption within the Federal government. The administration estimated that it has saved taxpayers N5.244 trillion by February 2017. Anti-corruption war The administration has demonstrated a strong commitment to the anti-corruption war. Running on a manifesto promising to curb and adequately prosecute corruption, believing it hinders economic growth and development. Buhari's economic policy has been perceived as being somewhat incoherent given the long periods it took him to fill his Cabinet positions. ==Controversies over appointments, nominees and confirmations==

Ever since the emergence of the 8th senate of Nigeria, many appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari has been denied confirmation. The EFCC boss appointment Ibrahim Mustafa Magu was nominated for appointment as EFCC Chairman in November 2015. But has been denied confirmation and this brought the topic to public as the issue becomes more persistent since 2017. The exact terms of section 2(3) of the EFCC Act are significant and worthy of note as it is the appointment, not the nomination, that is subject to Senate confirmation, neither is it a condition precedent to the validity of the appointment. In December 2016, the Senate refused to confirm Magu as EFCC Chairman over a report from the DSS which alleges that Magu wines and dines with the corrupt. And in March 2017, Magu heads to the senate again for confirmation as EFCC Chairman but was turned down again with the most vocal rejection voices from Senator Dino Melaye and his colleague, Biodun Olujimi. Olujimi flared, "Why prosecute people on the pages of newspapers?" as Melaye said he has failed "the integrity test" pushed at him over a security report they received from the DSS. Controversy over his removal In some reports, the chairman, Senate Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and privileges, Senator Samuel Anyanwu said that Nigeria Senate no longer regard Mr. Ibrahim Magu as Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was also reported to have said that there are massive petitions against the EFCC, but they could not invite Mr. Magu because he was no longer seen as the acting chairman. The lawmaker further said his committee would use 2018 budget defense to track down Magu. Involvement of The Executives In April 2017, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo told select online journalists at the Villa that the executive didn't need to send Magu to the senate for confirmation and that Magu will remain EFCC Chairman. In July 2017, Senate asked Osinbajo to withdraw the statement that senate lacks powers to confirm Magu and despite all threats, Osinbajo continues to throw his weight behind Magu as Magu insists “I cannot be distracted with those things. Nobody can purchase me, I cannot compromise what I am doing.” ==References==