Muhammadu Buhari

His Excellency
Major General

Muhammadu Buhari

GCFR
His Excellency; Major General; Muhammadu Buhari; GCFR
	Official portrait, 2015
7th and 15th President of Nigeria
	In office; 29 May 2015 – 29 May 2023
Vice President	Yemi Osinbajo
Preceded by	Goodluck Jonathan
Succeeded by	Bola Tinubu
	In office; 31 December 1983 – 27 August 1985; as Military Head of State of Nigeria
Chief of Staff	Tunde Idiagbon
Preceded by	Shehu Shagari
Succeeded by	Ibrahim Babangida
Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources
	In office; 11 November 2015 – 29 May 2023
President	Himself
Minister of State	Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu; Timipre Sylva
Preceded by	Diezani Allison-Madueke
Succeeded by	Bola Tinubu
	In office; March 1976 – June 1978; as Federal Commissioner of Petroleum; and Natural Resources
Head of State	Olusegun Obasanjo
Governor of Borno State
	In office; 3 February 1976 – 15 March 1976
Head of State	Murtala Mohammed; Olusegun Obasanjo
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Mustapha Amin
	In office; 1 August 1975 – 3 February 1976; as Governor of the North-Eastern State
Head of State	Murtala Mohammed
Preceded by	Musa Usman
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Personal details
Born	17 December 1942; Daura, Northern Region, British Nigeria; (now in Katsina, Nigeria)
Died	13 July 2025 (aged 82); London, England, UK
Political party	All Progressives Congress (2013–2025)
Other political; affiliations	All Nigeria Peoples Party (2002–2010); Congress for Progressive Change (2010–2013);
Spouse(s)	; Safinatu Yusuf (m. 1971; div. 1988) ; Aisha Halilu (m. 1989)
Relations	Muhammadu Ribadu (grandfather-in-law); Mamman Daura (nephew);
Children	10
Alma mater	Nigerian Military Training College; Mons Officer Cadet School; U.S. Army War College;
Occupation	Politician; military officer;
Awards	List of honors and awards
Military service
Nickname(s)	Baba or Baba Buhari
Allegiance	Nigeria
Branch	Nigerian Army
Service years	1962–1985
Rank	Major general
Conflicts	Nigerian 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.^[2]^[3] While he was in power, he passed laws to control how people behaved that were very harsh^[4] and put many people in jail, even the famous musician Fela Kuti.^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[7]^[8]^[9]

References

↑ Paden, John (2016). Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria. Roaring Forties Press. ISBN 978-1-938901-64-5.
↑ "Military Regime of Buhari and Idiagbon". Retrieved 12 September 2013.
↑ Max Siollun (October 2003). "Buhari and Idiagbon: A Missed Opportunity for Nigeria". Retrieved 12 September 2013.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ "Nigeria relaunches controversial 'war on indiscipline' brigade". the Guardian. 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
↑ Ugo, Chima Joseph (13 July 2025). "Breaking: Ex-President Buhari Dies at 82". Prime 9ja Online. ISSN 3092-8907. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
↑ "Former Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari dies aged 82". BBC News. 2025-07-13. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
↑ 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

[Paden-1] Paden, John (2016). Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria. Roaring Forties Press. ISBN 978-1-938901-64-5.

[Buhari-Idiagbon-2] "Military Regime of Buhari and Idiagbon". Retrieved 12 September 2013.

[Siollun-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.

[t636-7] 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.

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