Profile
Muhammadu Buhari GCFR (born 17 December 1942) is the President of Nigeria, in office since 2015. He is a retired major general in the Nigerian Army and previously served as the nation’s head of state from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d’état. The term Buharism is ascribed to the Buhari military government.
He unsuccessfully ran for the office of president of Nigeria in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 general elections. In December 2014, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the March 2015 general elections. Buhari won the election, defeating the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. This marked the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate in a general election. He was sworn in on 29 May 2015.
Personal Life
In 1971, Buhari married his first wife, Safinatu (née Yusuf) Buhari (First lady of Nigeria December 1983 – August 1985). They had five children together, four girls and one boy. Their first daughter, Zulaihat (Zulai) was named after Buhari’s mother. Their other children are Fatima, Musa (deceased son), Hadiza, and Safinatu.
In 1988, Buhari and his first wife Safinatu got a divorce. In December 1989, Buhari married his second and current wife Aisha Buhari (née Halilu). They also have five children together, a boy and four girls: Aisha, Halima, Yusuf, Zahra, and Amina.
On 14 January 2006, Safinatu Buhari, the former first lady, died from complications of diabetes. She was buried at Unguwar Rimi cemetery in accordance with Islamic rites.
In November 2012, Buhari’s first daughter, Zulaihat (née Buhari) Junaid died from sickle cell anemia, two days after having a baby at a hospital in Kaduna.
Education
Buhari attended Primary school in Daura and Mai’adua before proceeding to Katsina Model School in 1953.
Buhari’s attended Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College Katsina) from 1956 to 1961.
At age 19, Buhari attended Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC) in 1961.
Buhari underwent officer cadet training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot in England from 1962 to 1963.
Buhari attended Platoon Commanders’ Course at the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna from (1963 – 1964)
In 1964, he attended the Mechanical Transport Officer’s Course at the Army Mechanical Transport School in Borden, United Kingdom.
He also attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, in 1973
From 1979 to 1980, at the rank of colonel, Buhari (class of 1980) attended the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in the United States, and gained a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies.
Work History
Buhari was appointed as second lieutenant and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, Nigeria (1963 – 1964)
Buhari served as commander of the Second Infantry Battalion from 1965 to 1967.
Buhari also served as brigade major, Second Sector, First Infantry Division from April 1967 to July 1967.
Buhari was Brigade Major/Commandant, Thirty-first Infantry Brigade from 1970 to 1971
He then served as the Assistant Adjutant-General, First Infantry Division Headquarters, from 1971 to 1972
Buhari was Acting Director of Transport and Supply at the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport Headquarters from 1974 to 1975
Other roles include:
General Officer Commanding, 4th Infantry Division, August 1980 – January 1981
General Officer Commanding, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division, January 1981 – October 1981
General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armed Division Nigerian Army, October 1981 – December 1983
Say BABA; Baba go slow
DAURA, KATSINA STATE
17 December 1942
Katsina State
All Progressive Congress (APC)
Islam
President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria (GCFR)
demulus2004@yahoo.com
Political History
In March 1976, the Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, appointed Buhari as the Federal Commissioner (a position now called Minister) for Petroleum and Natural Resources.
When the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was created in 1977, Buhari was also appointed as its Chairman, a position he held until 1978.
From 1978 to 1979, he was Military Secretary at the Army Headquarters
From 1978 to 1979, he was a member of the Supreme Military Council
General Murtala Mohammed, appointed Buhari as Governor of the North-Eastern State, to oversee social, economic and political improvements in the state from 1 August 1975 to 3 February 1976.
Buhari also briefly served as Governor of Borno state from 3 February 1976 to 15 March 1976.
Buhari was the 7th military head of state from 31 December 1983 – 27 August 1985.
He will be retiring from his current position as the president of Nigeria in the upcoming 2023 election.
Leadership Style/Philosophy
- “No corruption” philosophy and leadership
- Agricultural driven mode of social development
Awards & Honours
Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of the Niger (GCFR)
Project
First time as a military head of state
Major Projects:
In 7 May 1984, Buhari announced the country’s 1984 National Budget and made some strong correction to cut down expenses, the budget came with a series of complementary measures:
- A temporary ban on recruiting federal public sector workers.
- Raising of Interest rates.
- Halting Capital Projects.
- Prohibition of borrowing by State governments.
- 15 percent cut from Shagari’s 1983 Budget.
- Realignment of import duties.
- Reducing the balance of payment deficit by cutting imports.
- It also gave priority to the importation of raw materials and spare parts that were needed for agriculture and industry.
- Other economic measures by Buhari took the form of countertrade, currency change, a price reduction of goods and services.
2nd Time as a Civilian – President
Major Project: No major project
Other Projects
Buhari awarded grants to the youths in the agricultural sector to boost their business.
Buhari provided Jobs via the N- power Initiative that provided jobs to graduates.
Buhari started the free feeding campaign for primary school pupil in Nigeria where he fed millions of primary school children.
Criticism/Controversy
During his tenure as Commissioner for petroleum and natural resources, 2.8 billion Naira allegedly went missing from the accounts of the NNPC in Midlands Bank in the United Kingdom. Former President Ibrahim Babangida allegedly accused Buhari of being responsible for this fraud.
After being elected as president of Nigeria in 2015, president Buhari was heavily criticized by Nigerians for bad performance.
