EX PRESIDENT OBITUARY: Muhammadu Buhari (1942–2025) – soldier, statesman, and symbol of discipline
Nigeria has lost one of its most enduring political figures. Muhammadu Buhari, the former military ruler and two-term elected President of Nigeria, died on July 13, 2025, in London at the age of 82.
In a brief message posted via his verified Twitter handle on Sunday, his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, announced Buhari’s death, stating that he passed away earlier in the day at a clinic in London, United Kingdom, following a prolonged illness.
His passing marks the end of an era defined by strict personal discipline, military-style governance, and polarizing yet transformative policies.
From Daura to Dodan Barracks
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari was the 23rd child of his father, Mallam Hardo Adamu, a Fulani chief. He joined the Nigerian Army at age 19 and rose through the ranks, with notable military training in Nigeria, India, and the United Kingdom.
Buhari first came to national prominence in 1983, when he led a coup that toppled the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari. His 20-month tenure as military Head of State was defined by his “War Against Indiscipline” campaign, during which he imposed strict rules on everything from punctuality to public hygiene. Though praised by some for restoring order, others criticized his rule for human rights abuses and media suppression.
He was ousted in another coup in August 1985, led by Ibrahim Babangida—not entirely bloodless—and spent time in detention before returning to civilian life with an aura of stoicism and integrity.
After Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Buhari reinvented himself as a civilian politician. He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2003, 2007, and 2011, each time under the banner of the northern-dominated All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
His persistent candidacies earned him both loyal followers and detractors, but they underscored his reputation as an incorruptible figure in a nation plagued by graft. His eventual victory came in 2015 under the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC), making him the first opposition candidate in Nigeria’s history to defeat an incumbent president at the ballot box.
“I Belong to Everybody, but I Belong to Nobody”
Buhari’s first term (2015–2019) was marked by an aggressive anti-corruption campaign and a military push against Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast. His personal integrity and modest lifestyle endeared him to many, especially in the North.
However, his presidency also drew criticism for economic stagnation, worsening insecurity in other regions, and what many perceived as ethnic favoritism and detachment from public concerns.
Reelected in 2019, Buhari’s second term coincided with global challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and youth-led protests against police brutality (#EndSARS), which tested his administration’s legitimacy and capacity.
A Quiet Exit, a Lasting Presence
After handing over power in 2023 to his political ally and successor, Bola Tinubu, Buhari retired to his hometown of Daura, stating he was relieved to leave public office behind. Both leaders maintained a special relationship.
Despite stepping back, his influence remained a powerful undercurrent in Nigerian politics.
His death has drawn tributes from across the political spectrum, with President Tinubu ordering flags flown at half-staff and dispatching Vice President Kashim Shettima to accompany Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.
Late Muhammadu Buhari stood out—rigid, austere, and unyielding in his convictions. In death, as in life, he remains one of Nigeria’s most consequential and controversial leaders.
He is survived by his wife, Aisha Buhari, and several children.
