Muhammadu Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari
Name	Muhammadu Buhari
Birth date	1942-12-17
Birth place	Daura, Northern Region, British Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Occupation	Politician, Military officer
Party	All Progressives Congress
Spouse	Safinatu Buhari (m. 1971; div. 1988), Aisha Buhari (m. 1989)

Muhammadu Buhari (born 17 December 1942) is a Nigerian politician and retired Brigadier General who served as the President of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. A native of Daura, he held senior positions in the Nigerian Army and led a 1983 coup that brought a military government to power, later serving as Head of State until 1985. Buhari later returned as a democratically elected civilian president, defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election and serving one second term after the 2019 election.

Early life and education

Buhari was born in Daura, Katsina State, in what was then the Northern Region of British Nigeria. He began primary schooling at Daura Elementary School and attended Government College, Katsina before enrolling at the School of Infantry, Warminster for military training and later attending the Command and Staff College, Jaji and the United States Army School of Infantry. His formative years intersected with figures from the Northern People's Congress era and regional leaders from Sokoto and Zaria.

Military career

Buhari enlisted in the Nigerian Army and rose through ranks serving in units such as the 1st Battalion and postings in Kano and Jos. He participated in counterinsurgency and internal security operations under successive chiefsof staff and worked with commanders from the Nigerian Defence Academy network. Buhari served as Military Governor of Borno State and Sokoto State during the era of military administrations and later became Chief of Army Staff and a member of the Supreme Military Council that oversaw national security and defense policy. His military tenure overlapped with contemporaries such as Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Ibrahim Babangida.

Political career

Buhari first entered national politics during the period of military interventions and assumed control after the 1983 Nigerian coup d'état. As Head of State, he implemented policies alongside officials drawn from institutions like the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria. After his removal in the 1985 Nigerian coup d'état led by Ibrahim Babangida, Buhari transitioned into private life and later entered electoral politics, contesting presidential elections in 2003, 2007, and 2011 under parties including the All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Congress for Progressive Change. He became a founding figure in the All Progressives Congress coalition that united elements of the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Progressives Grand Alliance, and People's Democratic Party defectors prior to the 2015 election.

Presidency (2015–2023)

In 2015 Buhari led the All Progressives Congress ticket to victory over incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, marking the first democratic transfer of power to an opposition party in Nigeria's history. His administration appointed ministers and advisers from political groupings across Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt and engaged with institutions like the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. Re-elected in 2019, his second term faced challenges from campaigns and legal petitions in the Supreme Court of Nigeria and electoral disputes involving the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Domestic policies and governance

Buhari emphasized anti-corruption initiatives, rehabilitation of infrastructure, and agricultural development, working with agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. His administration implemented fiscal policies responding to oil price shocks affecting revenues from the Nigerian oil sector and engaged with multilateral institutions including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Security measures addressed insurgencies linked to groups such as Boko Haram and aimed to strengthen the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Armed Forces. Policy outcomes generated debate among stakeholders including the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, and state governors from Kano State, Katsina State, and Lagos State.

Foreign policy and international relations

Buhari's foreign policy involved collaboration with regional and international actors such as the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union, the United Nations, and bilateral partners including the United States and the United Kingdom. His administration engaged on issues of regional security with partners like Chad, Niger, and Cameroon to counter transnational threats, and participated in diplomatic initiatives with the European Union on trade and migration. Nigeria under Buhari also negotiated with global energy stakeholders including OPEC members and international firms operating in the Niger Delta.

Personal life and legacy

Buhari married Safinatu Buhari and later Aisha Buhari; his family connections include relations in Daura and political networks across Northern Nigeria. His health and medical trips abroad drew attention from media outlets such as BBC News, The Guardian, and Reuters. Analysts and historians compare his leadership with predecessors including Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sani Abacha, and Olusegun Obasanjo, debating his impact on institutions like the 1999 Constitution and national development trajectories. His legacy encompasses military governance, anti-corruption campaigns, and the precedent of unseating an incumbent in a democratic election.

Category:Nigerian politicians Category:Presidents of Nigeria Category:Nigerian military personnel