Compiled by Samuel Solomon
Regarded as one of the most respected and transparent President in the history of Nigeria.
Muhammadu Buhari was born in 17th December, 1942 in Daura Kastina State in the northwest region of Nigeria.
He joined the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC) in 1961 and later received his further trainings in the United Kingdom, India, and the United States.
Buhari played significant roles in Nigeria’s military history. He participated in the 1966 counter-coup and the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) and rose through the ranks to become a Major General.
As the Military Head of State between 1983 and 1985 Buhari led a military coup on 31st December 1983 that overthrew the civilian government of President Shehu Shagari, citing widespread corruption and economic mismanagement making his new military government to champion anti-corruption campaign known asWar Against Indiscipline (WAI) to promoting civic responsibility and order with other strict economic austerity measures.
However, his government was also criticized for human rights abuses, press censorship, and harsh decrees. On August 27, 1985, Buhari was overthrown in another coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB).
After his removal from office, Buhari withdrew from public life for a time and in the 1990s he served as Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under General Sani Abacha’s regime.
Buhari contested for Nigeria’s presidency multiple times:
In 2003 he lost to Olusegun Obasanjo (PDP), in 2007 he lost to Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (PDP) and in 2011 he lost to Goodluck Jonathan (PDP).
Furthermore, after years of campaigning on an anti-corruption and security platforms, Buhari finally won the 2015 presidential election as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He defeated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, marking the first democratic power transition from one party to another in Nigerian history.
Above all, Buhari served two terms as a democratically elected president (2015–2023).
President Muhammadu Buhari died today in a clinic in London, United Kingdom at the age of 82 in the midst of battling with an undisclosed ailments. May Almighty God bless his memory.
