Nigeria, July 21 -- President Buhari has gone the way of all mortals. Sai Baba is dead. Long live Mai Gaskiya! May Almighty Allah forgive him, accept his soul and take care of those he left behind. Amen.

It had been quite a while since Nigeria experienced the magic of a man of mass following and un-monetised adulation until General Muhammadu Buhari was conscripted to enter the fray. We used to have the Azikiwes, Ahmadu Bellos, Awolowos, Aminu Kanos in the First Republic. But since the return to democracy in 1999, the single most vote-catching name was Muhammadu Buhari.

The history of his contribution to governance in Nigeria is already being written, whether we like it or not. It is impossible to miss the attempt by many otherwise insig...