The Man Muhammadu Buhari
By Tunde Opalana
Until his death at the ripe age of 83 years on Sunday, July 13th, 2025 in a clinic in London where he was recently admitted for medical treatment, the late President Buhari was a renowned figure in Nigeria and Africa.
He will remain a household name in years to come as his life and times in and outside of public office sparked different perceptions by Nigerians.
He served the nation twice as a military Head of State from 1983 to 1985, and then as a civilian President from 2015 to 2023.
During his time in office on both tenures, his administrations made notable impacts on the socio- economic life of the nation and the citizenry.
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His administration alongside the late General Tunde Idiagbon as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters was adjudged authoritarian for certain disciplinary measures and little tolerance for criticism by the civil society, the media and other social critics.
The nation’s economy under ‘Buharism’ was marked by austere measures while the ‘War Against Indiscipline’ became the Hallmark of social order.
His high- handedness and cohesive control of the military government no doubt led to the overthrow of his government by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in a palace coup.
He retired to a very quiet civil life until he joined politics and ran for the presidency for three consecutive times before fate finally smiled on him when he joined forces in the build up to the 2015 general election when he alongside other politicians in a landmark merger of parties formed the All Progressives Congress, APC, a platform on which he ran and won the election.
His presidency came in the mantra of tackling corruption, put an end to the then festering insecurity, and improving the ailing economy.
To streamline government finances and create a buffer against pillaging of public funds, his government introduced the
Treasury Single Account (TSA) which has been sustained by his successor, President Bola Tinubu.
However, his government was highly criticized by many for introduction of economic policies and programmes considered too harsh for common Nigerians and businesses .
Contrary to widely held expectation that he will deploy his wealth of military exposure to tackle insecurity, Nigerians were becoming more endangered as the nation faced multi- dimensional security challenges.
His administration suffered condemnation for alleged human rights abuses, disregard for court rulings and gagging of opposition through security operatives and trampling upon the sacred temple of the judiciary .
The late president was accused of high wired nepotism in appointing persons of the northern extract into public offices.
He honorably handed over the baton of governance to President Tinubu upon the completion of his two term as President on May 29, 2023 and once again retired to Katsina where he made little public appearances until his death.
Early Life and Military Career
Born on December 17, 1942, the late Buhari started his military career in 1961 when he joined the Nigerian Army.
He rose through the ranks in.the military formations and held various positions, including military governor of Borno State (1975-1976) and Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources (1976-1978).
Became Head of State after leading a military coup on December 31, 1983, overthrowing the civilian government of Shehu Shagari.
His government was overthrown by a coup led by Ibrahim Babangida in August 1985.
Venturing Into Politics
Buhari had three failed presidential aspirations. He ran for presidential elections in 2003, 2007, and 2011.
At the berth of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he became the presidential candidate of the party in 2015.
Due to the faith that many Nigerians had in him, he won the 2015 election by defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, marking the first time an incumbent president lost a Nigerian election.
He contested the 2019 presidential
Poll as the sole candidate of one the APC and was re-elected in 2019, defeating his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
His tenure ended on May 29, 2023, with the inauguration of Bola Tinubu.
The late President was a happily married husband of Aisha Buhari, with whom he had five children.
