MUHAMMADU BUHARI

Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, born December 17, 1942, is a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. A retired Nigerian army major general, he previously held power as the country's military head of state from December 31, 1983, to August 27, 1985, following a military coup d'état that ousted the civilian government of Shehu Shagari. The term "Buharism" characterizes the authoritarian policies of his military regime.

Buhari ran for president in 2003 and 2007 under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and in 2011 under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). In December 2014, he became the presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2015 general election. Buhari won the election, marking the first time in Nigeria's history that an incumbent president lost a general election. He was inaugurated on May 29, 2015. In February 2019, Buhari was re-elected, defeating his main opponent, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with a margin of over 3 million votes.In 1962, at 19, Buhari joined the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC), later renamed the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). He completed officer cadet training at Mons Officer Cadet School in England from 1962 to 1963. At 20, he became a second lieutenant and Platoon Commander in Nigeria. Buhari attended the Platoon Commanders' Course in Kaduna and the Mechanical Transport Officer's Course in the UK in 1964. He served as commander of the Second Infantry Battalion from 1965 to 1967 and played a role in the July 1966 counter-coup, which replaced General Aguiyi Ironsi with General Yakubu Gowon following the 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. During the Nigerian Civil War, Buhari served in the 1st Division under Lt. Col Mohammed Shuwa. He was assigned various roles, including Adjutant and Company Commander, participating in the capture of Ogoja and later being posted as Brigade Major of the 3rd Infantry Brigade. After the war, he held positions such as Brigade Major/Commandant and Assistant Adjutant-General. Buhari attended the Defence Services Staff College in India in 1973 and served as acting director of Transport and Supply at the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport Headquarters from 1974 to 1975.

In the 1975 military coup, Buhari helped bring General Murtala Mohammed to power and was later appointed Governor of the North-Eastern State, then the first Governor of Borno State. After Mohammed's assassination in 1976, Buhari became the Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources and chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation until 1978. During his tenure, significant investments were made in petroleum infrastructure.

Buhari was Military Secretary at the Army Headquarters from 1978 to 1979 and a member of the Supreme Military Council. He attended the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, from 1979 to 1980, obtaining a master's degree in Strategic Studies.

REFERENCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammadu_Buhari