The passage of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, in a London hospital on July 13, 2025, marked the end of an era in the nation’s political leadership. Aged 82, the patriotic elder statesman was buried in Daura, Katsina State, on July 15, 2025. His death has obviously left a huge vacuum in the nation’s political landscape, which will be very difficult to fill. Buhari ruled Nigeria as a military head of state and democratic leader and did his best for the development of the country.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Buhari was the 23rd child of his father, Adamu, who died when he was about four years old. His mother, Zulaiha, raised him up. He had his primary school education in Daura and Maidua from 1948 to 1952. He proceeded to Katsina Middle School in 1953 before later going to Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College, Katsina) from 1956 to 1961.
Buhari later joined the military in 1961 and had his first military training in the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna. He also got military training in Britain, India and the United States.
Following the ousting of Yakubu Gowon from power in 1975, Buhari was appointed the military governor of the then North Eastern State. Gen. Murtala Muhammed, who succeeded Gowon, was assassinated in 1976, paving way for Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo to become the military Head of State. Obasanjo appointed Buhari federal commissioner for petroleum resources. He later became military secretary at the Supreme Military Headquarters. He was also the General Officer Commanding 4th Infantry Division, and 3rd Armoured Division.
Civilians came back to power in 1979. But corruption and general dissatisfaction trailed the civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. This led to the overthrow of Shagari on December 31, 1983, by the military and, consequently, Buhari emerged as the Head of State and ruled to August 27, 1985.
During his reign as Head of State, Buhari initiated the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) to fight corruption and instill positive values in Nigerians. He jailed many politicians seen to be corrupt at the time and enacted decrees that abridged the human rights of the citizens and freedom of the press.
His economic policies were also not salutary. Even the austerity measures he instituted impoverished many citizens. He was overthrown in another military coup on August 27, 1985, by the then Major-General Ibrahim Babangida.
Upon his retirement from the military, Buhari joined the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in 2003 and ran for President that year. He lost to Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was the incumbent President then. He ran again in 2007 against Umaru Yar’Adua, also of the PDP, and lost. He left the ANPP in 2010 and formed the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He became the standard-bearer of the party for the 2011 election but also lost to the PDP candidate, Goodluck Jonathan.
It was in 2015 when he ran on the platform of a coalition of some opposition parties called the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he defeated Jonathan, the first time an incumbent Nigerian President would be so defeated in an election. APC is the current ruling party in Nigeria.
Buhari ran for his second term in 2019 against the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and also won. He had pledged to fight corruption, insecurity and engender a robust economy. He failed to achieve any of these promises, to the disappointment of many Nigerians. Under his presidency, the country fell into recession twice and the Boko Haram insurgency never abated as expected. His government cracked down on mass protests against police brutality in October 2020. This drew wide criticisms against his government.
His health was not stable when he was in power as he frequently went on medical trips to London. When his tenure elapsed on May 29, 2023, he handed over to the incumbent President, Bola Tinubu. Tinubu had declared a national mourning period for him. He ordered that Nigerian flags should fly at half-mast for seven days. In his tribute, the President said Buhari was a disciplined patriot whose belief in Nigeria’s unity guided his every action.
Some world leaders also paid glowing tributes to the late former President. The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Youssouf, described him as a pan-Africanist who was a steadfast supporter of multilateral cooperation and a tireless champion of peace and stability across Africa. Sierra Leone’s President and current chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Julius Maada Bio, described his death as a devastating loss.
The United States embassy in Nigeria described the former president as a leader whose life was defined by service, discipline, and a commitment to restore integrity to public office.
The Chinese embassy expressed deepest condolences to the people of Nigeria. It said his pivotal contributions to advancing China-Nigeria relations would forever remain etched in the two country’s shared history.
Before his death, Buhari had many honours and awards. Among them were the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), Defence Service Medal (DSM), National Service Medal (NSM), and Forces Service Staff (FSS). We join other great Nigerians to bid farewell to the great leader.
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