The death of former President Muhammadu Buhari marks the end of an era . An era , defined by the rise of a Northern political colossus with an unmatched grassroots connection and a cult-like following that spanned decades. Buhari was more than just a former military ruler or two-term civilian President.
To millions, he was Mai Gaskiya , the man of truth, a symbolic and strategic rallying point for a conservative, populist, ethno-religious movement rooted deeply in Northern Nigeria.
With his passing, the North and by extension Nigeria is now faced with a significant political vacuum. This writing is focus on the vacuum that his passing will leave in Northern Nigeria politics.
The question is: who stands to inherit the sprawling structure he leaves behind?
Buhari’s support base was not just enduring it was fiercely loyal, weathering controversies, economic downturns, and security challenges without wavering. In his Book The Accidental Public Servant, Nasir El-Rufai said and I paraphrase…”when the deadly riots broke out in the North after Jonathan was announced winner of the 2011 Presidential election, I tried to reach our Leader Gen. Mohammadu Buhari all to no avail. I knew that he was the only one with the silver bullet to calm those rampaging youths…..” That was how respectable he was.
His brand, to his followers, thrived on integrity, simplicity, and a deep identification with the ordinary Northern citizen commonly called the talakawas.
Even when policies faltered or critics howled, his followers remained stuck like ants on sugar. Many politicians, rather than build their own influence, simply aligned with him for electoral success. They used his name and posters and their rewards were seen. His name alone could swing millions of votes.
From his days in the ANPP to the formation of CPC and finally the APC merger, Buhari was the anchor. Now that he is gone, that anchor is missing. The political machinery he built, stretching across the Northwest, parts of the Northeast, and rooted in Fulani-Muslim elite networks is now adrift. The huge shoes are empty.
His death has triggered an inevitable realignment within Northern political blocs. With Buhari’s overarching shadow gone, ambitious figures across the North will sure begin to eye his glittering throne of influence.
Atiku Abubakar may be the most obvious “contender”. A fellow Fulani Muslim and seasoned politician, he now no longer has to contend with Buhari’s overwhelming grassroots popularity in the North. While Atiku has often struggled to command the same kind of street-level loyalty without success, he has elite connections, cross-regional appeal, and seniority. The question is: can he finally consolidate the Fulani-Muslim political bloc and become a rallying figure in the post-Buhari North?
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano Governor , former Minister of Defense and NNPP leader, Kwankwaso is arguably the most potent grassroots mobilizer in today’s North today. The Kwankwasiyya movement remains a disciplined and highly loyal political army.
Kano, which gave Buhari some of his biggest margins is Kwankwaso’s stronghold, and his influence extends into Jigawa, Katsina, and Sokoto.
His recent flirtation with the APC raises strategic questions: Is he positioning himself to absorb the remnants of Buharism?
Nasir El-Rufai, the former Kaduna Governor and ex-Minister of FCT is seen as a technocratic, reform-minded leader with strong links to both Islamic groups and Northern elites.
El-Rufai appeals to a younger, more educated Northern demographic disenchanted with the old order. His boldness and ideological clarity may position him as the “modern” face of a post-Buhari North, especially among elites seeking a new political direction.
The Governors and the Dark Horses, current Northern Governors are also in the frame. With executive power and regional visibility, they have the opportunity to reposition themselves as new political landlords. But this will depend on performance, charisma, and their ability to speak to the needs of the masses.
A dark horse, a previously underestimated figure may also emerge, especially if Buhari’s political legacy fragments into factions.
The Fate of Buharism, can the Buhari structure survive his passing? Perhaps. But its future may lie in whether it is preserved in whole or broken into factions. Buharism thrived not just on policies or party, butwas rooted in loyalty, austerity, discipline, and moral certitude.
Without Buhari’s personal magnetism, it’s unclear whether anyone else can command that kind of psychological and emotional hold on the masses.
What happens next could redefine not just Northern politics, but the entire national landscape.
One thing is clear: the structure must be inherited anyhow. Whether by one figure or by many. Who emerges as the new face of Northern political dominance is the elephant in the room. But the clock is ticking, and in politics, vacuums don’t last forever.
By OSCAR OKHIFO @THEINDEPENDENT
