Biography
Muhammadu Buhari (born 17 December 1942) is a Nigerian politician and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria since 2015.
He is a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army and also served as head of state from 1983 to 1985.
He removed Alhaji Shehu Shagari from power in a coup.
Nigerian politician
Muhammadu Buhari |
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 Muhammadu Buhari: History, Biography, Photos |
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| Full name: | Muhammadu Buhari |
| Stage name: | President Buhari |
| Born: | December 17, 1942 (age 81) |
| Place of birth: | Daura |
| State of origin: | Katsina State |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Parents: | Hardo Buhari, Zulaihat Buhari |
| The children: | Zahra Buhari, Yusuf Buhari, Chief Halima Buhari, Fatima Buhari, Musa Buhari, Zulaihat Buhari, Amina Buhari, Hadiza Buhari, Safinatu Lami Buhari, Aisha Buhari |
| Siblings: | Do not have |
| Wife • Husband/wife: | Aisha Buhari (m. 1989), Safinatu Buhari (m. 1971–1988) |
| Job: | Politician • Warrior |
| Net worth: | $50-110 million |
Early life
Muhammadu Buhari was born on 17 December 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, to a Fulani leader; Mallam Hardo Buhari, and a mother, Zulaihat Buhari, of Hausa and Kanuri ancestry.
President Buhari is the 23rd child of his father. He was raised by his mother after his father died when he was four years old.
Education
Muhammadu Buhari attended Mai’adua Primary School and Daura Primary School before attending Katsina Junior Secondary School in 1953 and then Katsina Provincial Senior Secondary School from 1956 to 1961.
He went on and joined the Nigerian Military Training Academy (NMTC) in 1962. From 1962 to 1963, he attended officer cadet training at the Mons Officer Candidate School in Aldershot, England. From November 1963 to January 1964, Buhari attended the Platoon Commanders Course at the Nigerian Military Training Academy, Kaduna.
In 1964, he furthered his military training by attending the Mechanical Transport Officer Course at the Army Mechanical Transport School in Borden, UK and he also attended the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA, where he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies.
He also attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, in 1973.
Military career
In 1975, former President Muhammadu Buhari was part of a military coup that ousted Yakubu Gowon and as a result was appointed military governor of Borno, formerly known as North East State. That same year, General Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as federal commissioner for petroleum resources.
In 1977, Buhari became military secretary at the Supreme Military Command. He was also a division commander in Kaduna.
After Shehu Shagari was elected, the country suffered from economic recession, which was seen by everyone, including the military, as political and corrupt practices. This led to another military coup on December 31, 1983, where Buhari was elected as the new head of state.
When he took office, the previous government had broken many systems in the country. He was forced to take a tough stance against corrupt individuals. He launched a program called the War on Corruption to enact positive reforms.
Political career
Muhammadu Buhari’s political journey began in 2003 when he ran for the presidency but lost to Olusegun Obasanjo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He ran again for the same position in 2007 but was defeated by Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP. In 2011, he tried again but lost to Goodluck Jonathan.
In 2014, Buhari was nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its presidential candidate for the 2015 elections. He emerged as the winner among 14 candidates with 2.5 million votes more than his nearest rival, Jonathan from the PDP.
In May 2014, following the Chibok girls’ kidnapping, Muhammadu Buhari strongly condemned the Boko Haram insurgency. He “called on Nigerians to set aside religion, politics and all other divisions to crush the insurgency, which he said was being fomented by heartless fanatics masquerading as Muslims”.
In December 2014, Muhammadu Buhari pledged to increase security in Nigeria if elected president. Following the announcement, his approval ratings soared, largely due to Jonathan’s apparent inability to combat Boko Haram.
Muhammadu Buhari has made internal security and the eradication of insurgents one of the main pillars of his campaign. In January 2015, the militant group “Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta” (MEND) endorsed Buhari.
In February 2015, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo quit the ruling PDP party and endorsed Buhari.
On March 31, Jonathan called Buhari to acknowledge and congratulate him on his election as president. Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in on May 29, 2015 in a ceremony attended by at least 23 heads of state and government.
He was re-elected president in the 2019 general election held on February 23 with 56% of the total vote.
Personal life
Muhammadu Buhari married his first wife, Safinatu in 1971. They had five children, four daughters and one son, namely; Zulaihat (deceased), Fatima Buhari, Musa (deceased), Hadiza and Safinatu Buhari.
He divorced Safinatu Buhari in 1988. On January 14, 2006, Safinatu Buhari, the former first lady, died of complications from diabetes.
In 1988, Buhari and his first wife Safinatu Buhari divorced. In December 1989, Buhari married his second and current wife Aisha Buhari. They also have five children together, one son and four daughters: Aisha, Halima, Yusuf, Zahra and Amina Buhari.
President Muhammadu Buhari has 10 children: Zahra Buhari, Yusuf Buhari, Chief Halima Buhari, Fatima Buhari, Musa Buhari, Zulaihat Buhari, Amina Buhari, Hadiza Buhari, Safinatu Lami Buhari and Aisha Buhari.
Net worth
As of 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari’s net worth is estimated to be between $50 – $110 million.
In addition, he owns five houses and two cottages with farms, an orchard and a ranch with 270 cattle, 25 sheep, five horses and many birds, shares in three companies, two plots of undeveloped land and two cars bought with savings.
