Muhammadu Buhari

His Excellency
Major General

Muhammadu Buhari

GCFR
Official portrait of Buhari
Official portrait, 2015
7th and 15th President of Nigeria
In office
29 May 2015 – 29 May 2023
Vice PresidentYemi Osinbajo
Preceded byGoodluck Jonathan
Succeeded byBola Tinubu
In office
31 December 1983 – 27 August 1985
as Military Head of State of Nigeria
Chief of StaffTunde Idiagbon
Preceded byShehu Shagari
Succeeded byIbrahim Babangida
Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources
In office
11 November 2015 – 29 May 2023
PresidentHimself
Minister of StateEmmanuel Ibe Kachikwu
Timipre Sylva
Preceded byDiezani Allison-Madueke
Succeeded byBola Tinubu
In office
March 1976 – June 1978
as Federal Commissioner of Petroleum
and Natural Resources
Head of StateOlusegun Obasanjo
Governor of Borno State
In office
3 February 1976 – 15 March 1976
Head of StateMurtala Mohammed
Olusegun Obasanjo
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byMustapha Amin
In office
1 August 1975 – 3 February 1976
as Governor of the North-Eastern State
Head of StateMurtala Mohammed
Preceded byMusa Usman
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born(1942-12-17)17 December 1942
Daura, Northern Region, British Nigeria
(now in Katsina, Nigeria)
Died13 July 2025(2025-07-13) (aged 82)
London, England, UK
Political partyAll Progressives Congress (2013–2025)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1971; div. 1988)​
​
(m. 1989)​
Relations
Children10
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Politician
  • military officer
AwardsList of honors and awards
Military service
Nickname(s)Baba or Baba Buhari
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch Nigerian Army
Service years1962–1985
RankMajor general
ConflictsNigerian Civil War
Chadian–Nigerian War

Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR (17 December 1942 – 13 July 2025) was the President of Nigeria and a former Major General in the Nigerian Army. He first became Head of State of Nigeria on 31 December 1983 when he took over the government by surprise. While he was in power, he passed laws to control how people behaved that were very harsh and put many people in jail, even the famous musician Fela Kuti. On 27 August 1985, there was another surprise takeover and he was no longer in charge of the country.

In the 21st century, Buhari decided to try and become head of state again and ran in multiple elections. He eventually won and became President of Nigeria in 2015. He brought back some of the harsh laws from the last time he was in charge of Nigeria. Now, more people have been criticizing him as part of the End SARS protests.

Buhari died in London, England, on 13 July 2025, while receiving medical treatment after being hospitalised, at the age of 82.

References

  1. ↑ Paden, John (2016). Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria. Roaring Forties Press. ISBN 978-1-938901-64-5.
  2. ↑ "Military Regime of Buhari and Idiagbon". Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  3. ↑ Max Siollun (October 2003). "Buhari and Idiagbon: A Missed Opportunity for Nigeria". Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  4. ↑ May, Clifford D. (1984-08-10). "NIGERIA'S DISCIPLINE CAMPAIGN: NOT SPARING THE ROD (Published 1984)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  5. ↑ Moyer, Justin Wm. "Muhammadu Buhari vs. Fela Kuti: Nigeria's new president-elect once jailed a music icon". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  6. ↑ "Nigeria relaunches controversial 'war on indiscipline' brigade". the Guardian. 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  7. ↑ Ugo, Chima Joseph (13 July 2025). "Breaking: Ex-President Buhari Dies at 82". Prime 9ja Online. ISSN 3092-8907. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  8. ↑ "Former Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari dies aged 82". BBC News. 2025-07-13. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  9. ↑ Smith, Harrison. "Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian president and ex-military ruler, dies at 82". The Washington Post.

Other websites

Media related to Muhammadu Buhari at Wikimedia Commons