Muhammadu Buhari, Former Nigerian Leader, Passes at 82

Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s Former President and Military Ruler, Dies at 82

Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s former military ruler turned civilian president, has died at the age of 82 in a London clinic. Known for his strict discipline, austere image, and anti-corruption stance, Buhari leaves behind a legacy both praised and criticized.

Born in 1942 in Daura, northern Nigeria, Buhari was the 23rd child of his father and grew up under humble circumstances. He joined the army shortly after independence and rose swiftly through the ranks, training in the UK and becoming a military governor and later oil minister in the 1970s.

In December 1983, he took power in a military coup, ousting the democratically elected government of Shehu Shagari. As head of state, Buhari launched a heavy-handed campaign against corruption and public disorder, ordering citizens to queue properly under military watch and punishing tardy civil servants with public humiliation. Critics accused him of repressing press freedom and human rights; Fela Kuti, Nigeria’s musical icon, was jailed during this period on dubious charges.

Buhari was overthrown in 1985 and spent 40 months in detention. Years later, he re-emerged as a born-again democrat. After three failed presidential bids, he won in 2015, becoming the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

His election was driven by a promise of change: to crush Boko Haram, end corruption, and revive the economy. But global oil price collapses and a recession undercut his goals. Security worsened with the rise of banditry and farmer-herder clashes, and Boko Haram remained a threat despite military efforts.

While many admired Buhari’s personal integrity—he declared modest assets and avoided ostentatious displays—critics argued that his government failed to reform the corrupt systems he had vowed to dismantle. Even his famed war on corruption appeared selective, and progress on youth unemployment lagged.

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Economic hardship deepened under his tenure. A ban on rice imports, meant to boost local farming, backfired when domestic production fell short. Food prices soared, and a 50kg bag of rice—once 7,500 naira under his predecessor—spiked to over 60,000 naira. For many, that bag of rice became the symbol of their disappointment.

His administration also rolled out a controversial naira redesign just before the 2023 elections, leading to cash shortages that caused widespread suffering. The policy was widely seen as politically motivated, possibly aimed at weakening his own party’s candidate, Bola Tinubu—though Tinubu ultimately won.

Nicknamed “Baba Go Slow” for his sluggish decision-making—he took six months to name a cabinet—Buhari defended himself by blaming a slow system, not personal indecision.

His two-term presidency was also marked by secrecy over his health, including long absences abroad for treatment, fueling public concern and speculation.

Despite the controversies, Buhari remained a respected figure in northern Nigeria, especially among the poor, who saw him as a rare honest politician. His wife, Aisha Buhari, at times openly criticized his leadership, even threatening to withhold her support during his re-election campaign.

Buhari was married twice, first to Safinatu Yusuf and later to Aisha Halilu, who survives him along with his 10 children.

A leader who ruled both with military might and democratic mandate, Buhari’s life mirrored Nigeria’s own turbulent journey—filled with hope, hardship, and the constant struggle for change.