Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s ex-president and a former military leader known for his pledge to tackle corruption in public office, has died at 82, according to a statement released by the presidential press team on Sunday.
The announcement stated that he passed away in London around 4:30 p.m. after battling a long-standing illness.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is currently in office, expressed sympathy to Buhari’s family and directed the vice president to travel to the United Kingdom to oversee the return of Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.
Tinubu spoke about Buhari as a dedicated public figure, one who served with discipline, loyalty to the country, and a firm belief in national unity and growth.
He also pointed out that Buhari showed unwavering resolve even during very challenging periods, governed with honesty and strength, and consistently acted with Nigeria’s best interest in mind.
Tinubu emphasized his focus on integrity in governance, his hard-line stance against corruption, and how he constantly placed Nigeria before personal ambitions.
Buhari’s first successful bid for the presidency came in 2015, after three failed attempts. Four years later, he was re-elected for a second term in office.
Military Background and Rise to Prominence
Buhari first became head of state through a military takeover in 1983 but lost power to another coup in 1985. Many people remember him for initiating a strong fight against corruption in a country once described by a former British prime minister in harsh terms.
Supporters often highlight his efforts to suppress the Boko Haram terror group and deal with insecurity that had troubled Nigeria’s northeastern region for years.
He was born in December 1942 in Daura, a town in Katsina State. As a Fulani Muslim, he received military education in Kaduna, the United Kingdom, India, and the United States.
His political presence started gaining attention in 1975, when he took a leadership role after a military coup removed Yakubu Gowon from power. Buhari was appointed military governor of Borno State, an area that would later be heavily affected by terrorist attacks.
Family Life and Move to Civilian Rule
Buhari married twice and had ten children. He held top positions in Nigeria both as a military leader and, later, as an elected civilian president. During his 2015 campaign, he described himself as a “reformed democrat.”
His victory was met with public celebrations, with large gatherings of people showing support across cities. However, disappointment followed shortly afterward, as critics felt he wasted early goodwill by not acting quickly enough.
One of the main issues was the delay in forming a cabinet, which took half a year. There were also concerns about his slow response to an economic crisis caused by declining oil prices and a weakening national currency.
Buhari held off for a long time before adjusting the naira’s exchange rate, which made investors uneasy. This created a wide difference between the official rate and the parallel market.
Economic Policy and Criticism
Economic expert Bismarck Rewane described Buhari’s limited grasp of modern financial policy as a major flaw that contributed to a nationwide recession. Rewane believes this stemmed from Buhari’s deep suspicion of open market ideas, a view he developed after losing power in the 1980s.
According to Rewane, Buhari never forgot how in 1983, after refusing IMF advice to adjust the currency and cut subsidies, he was ousted just weeks later. Since then, he had little trust in market-driven reforms. Even when he eventually agreed to changes, the timing was often poor and the impact minimal.
Rewane, who had met Buhari several times during the election campaigns and even advised him on policy after his win, described him as someone who led with firm convictions.
He told CNN that Buhari’s strict manner might be seen as stubbornness by some, but he viewed it as a rare show of strong character in a political culture often known for its flexibility and corruption.
Challenges During Buhari’s Time in Office
During his first tenure as president, Buhari dealt with multiple threats, including the Boko Haram attacks, separatist demands from the southeast, and violent clashes linked to herders in several regions.
Even with increasing concern over the state of security across the country, he managed to win re-election in 2019. That same term saw widespread demonstrations erupt against a controversial police unit, with people reporting cases of abuse, extortion, and abductions.
As the protests grew and some parts turned violent, Buhari promised more determined efforts to confront militant threats and improve the country’s financial situation. Those tensions, however, remained present until the end of his administration.
During his last appearance at the United Nations in 2022, Buhari expressed disapproval of leaders who extended their time in office by adjusting constitutional limits. In the following year, he praised Bola Tinubu, the man who succeeded him, calling him “the best person for the job.”
