Buhari will be remembered as the country’s second longest-serving leader, with a tenure of nine years, seven months, and 27 days. He enforced strict discipline during his time as military head of state.
After three consecutive failed attempts, Buhari returned to power in 2015 by defeating the then incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, with a margin of 2,571,759 votes.
Buhari was born into a Muslim family in Daura, Katsina State, North-West Nigeria, in 1942. He attended the Katsina Provincial Secondary School, now known as Government College, Katsina, from 1956 to 1961. In 1961, he joined the Nigerian Army after being admitted to the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna.
He served as Nigeria’s second longest-serving leader for nine years, seven months, and 27 days. He spent one year, seven months, and 27 days as a military leader from December 31, 1983, to August 27, 1985. He served eight years as a democratically elected President from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023.
In 1976, he became the first military governor of Borno State. He was Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources in 1976. He was the first Chairman of the NNPC in 1977 and later became Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund in 1994.
On December 31, 1983, as a General, Buhari became the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. His regime as a military leader was known for promoting discipline among citizens, popularized by the War Against Indiscipline.
Buhari entered politics in 2003 after Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. He ran for president five times under three political parties: ANPP, CPC, and APC. He lost three times in 2003, 2007, and 2011. He finally won in his fourth attempt in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, defeating Goodluck Jonathan.
Buhari was elected and inaugurated twice as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2015 and 2019. He was married to Safinatu Yusuf from 1971 to 1988 and to Aisha Halilu since 1989. He had 10 children. He died in a clinic in London on July 13, 2025, at the age of 82.
