Born in 1942 in northern Nigeria, Buhari joined the Nigerian army shortly after independence. He trained in the UK and rose through the ranks, becoming military governor of the northeast and later federal commissioner for petroleum.

In 1983, he became Nigeria’s military head of state after a coup, ruling for 20 months with a strict anti-corruption and discipline campaign.

His regime was marked by efforts to fight corruption and indiscipline, including jailing politicians and public officials, but also by human rights abuses and repression of press freedom.

He was ousted in 1985 and imprisoned for over three years.

After embracing multiparty democracy, Buhari ran unsuccessfully for president three times before winning in 2015. He became the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent in Nigeria’s democratic era. He was re-elected in 2019.

Buhari’s presidency focused on fighting corruption, tackling insecurity (notably Boko Haram insurgency), and economic reform. However, his tenure coincided with Nigeria’s worst economic crisis in decades.

Rising food prices (notably rice) and persistent security challenges, including farmer-herder conflicts and banditry, made governance nearly impossible. His government faced criticism for slow governance, human rights concerns, and failure to fully deliver on promises.

Buhari was popular among northern Nigeria’s poor but earned the nickname “Baba go slow” due to perceived slow decision-making. His anti-corruption stance earned respect, but economic hardships and insecurity eroded support.

Buhari’s health declined during his

office, leading to prolonged absences. He was married twice and had 10 children. His leadership remains a subject of debate—praised for integrity and anti-corruption efforts, but criticized for economic and security shortcomings.