Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), GCFR, former military ruler and two-term civilian president of Nigeria, passed away on 13 July 2025 at the age of 82 in a London clinic. A polarising yet enduring figure in Nigerian political history, Buhari’s life spanned the barracks and the ballot box, military discipline and democratic contest, national redemption and controversy.
Early Life and Education
Born on 17 December 1942 in Daura, Katsina State—then part of the Northern Region of British Nigeria—Muhammadu Buhari was the 23rd child of his father, Mallam Hardo Adamu, a Fulani chieftain. Orphaned at the age of four, he was raised by Waziri Alhassan, son of the Emir of Daura. Buhari began his education in Daura and Mai’Adua, before attending Katsina Middle School and later the Katsina Provincial Secondary School. Though initially interested in studying medicine, he was persuaded to join the military, a decision that would shape the course of his life.
Military Career
Buhari enrolled in the Nigerian Military Training College in 1962 at the age of 19, later continuing his training in the United Kingdom at Mons Officer Cadet School and the Army Mechanical Transport School. Rising swiftly through the ranks, he played key roles during the Nigerian Civil War, including participation in the 1966 counter-coup and leading troops in crucial battles at Ogoja and Onitsha.
Following the war, Buhari served in various strategic positions: as Governor of the North-Eastern State, the inaugural Governor of Borno State, Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, and Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. By 1983, he had become General Officer Commanding the 3rd Armoured Division, stationed in Jos.
First Rise to Power: Military Rule (1983–1985)
On 31 December 1983, Buhari seized power from the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari, citing widespread corruption and economic mismanagement. As military head of state, he ruled with uncompromising discipline. His administration launched the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), introduced stringent decrees such as Decree No. 4, retrenched thousands in the civil service, and retrospectively applied capital punishment laws.
Over 500 officials were jailed for corruption, strikes were banned, and notable critics—including Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti—were detained. Buhari’s government also cracked down on drug trafficking and implemented currency exchange reforms. Yet the regime’s authoritarian tone and economic hardship, combined with dissatisfaction within the military, led to his overthrow by General Ibrahim Babangida in August 1985. Buhari was subsequently detained in Benin City until 1988.
Civilian Interlude and Return to Politics
After his release, Buhari returned to Daura, engaging in local development through initiatives like the Katsina Foundation. Later, he was appointed Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under General Sani Abacha, where he earned a reputation for transparency and fiscal discipline.
From 2003, Buhari contested Nigeria’s presidency four times—initially under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and later with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). After three unsuccessful bids, he secured victory in 2015 under the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC), defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in a historic democratic transition.
Presidency: 2015–2023
As civilian president, Buhari presented himself as an anti-corruption reformer and disciplinarian. His government intensified military efforts against Boko Haram, which he declared “technically defeated,” though security challenges persisted across the nation.
Buhari’s administration also introduced the National Social Investment Programmes, including N-Power, TraderMoni, and the School Feeding Programme, alongside high-profile corruption prosecutions and a whistleblower policy that recovered significant stolen assets.
Nonetheless, critics pointed to allegations of nepotism, economic stagnation, rising unemployment, and slow decision-making. Ethno-religious tensions escalated, driven by farmer-herder conflicts, banditry, and secessionist agitations. Recurring health challenges forced Buhari to seek medical treatment abroad multiple times, most notably in 2017 when he spent 104 days outside the country.
Second Term and Exit
Re-elected in 2019, Buhari’s second term was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the #EndSARS protests against police brutality, and worsening security concerns. Critics accused his government of creeping authoritarianism, but he maintained that his actions were in defence of national stability.
On 29 May 2023, Buhari peacefully transferred power to his successor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and retired to his hometown of Daura, closing a significant and controversial chapter in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
Legacy
Muhammadu Buhari leaves behind a complex and contested legacy. Admirers hail him as an incorruptible patriot who sought to instil discipline and fiscal responsibility. Critics argue he was an austere leader ill-suited to the demands of modern governance, missing opportunities for national transformation.
A father of ten and devout Muslim, Buhari remained a central figure in Nigerian politics for more than fifty years. Affectionately called “Baba” by his supporters, he will be remembered as the only Nigerian to have led the nation both as a military ruler and as an elected president—a testament to his unique and enduring imprint on the country he sought to reform and unite.
May his soul rest in peace.
