50 Jaw-dropping facts about late Buhari’s remarkable life, legacy, rule

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s former president and military leader, died on Sunday. He left an indelible mark through his anti-corruption stance, controversial policies, and transformative initiatives.

Here are 50 astonishing facts about his remarkable life and legacy.

1. Born in Daura: Muhammadu Buhari was born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria, to a Muslim Fulani family.

2. Twenty-Third Child: He was the 23rd child of Mallam Hardo Adamu, a Fulani chieftain, and his mother, Zulaihat.

3. Named After a Scholar: His name honours Muhammad al-Bukhari, a renowned 9th-century Islamic scholar.

4. Orphaned Early: Buhari’s father died when he was four, leaving him under the guardianship of Waziri Alhassan.

5. Cattle Rearing: As a child, Buhari helped rear cattle while attending Qur’anic school in Daura.

6. Scholarship to UK: In 1960, he won a scholarship from Elder Dempster Lines for a summer visit to the United Kingdom.

7. Headboy in School: He served as house captain and headboy during his secondary education at Katsina Provincial Secondary School.

8. Military Ambition: Inspired by junior officer Hassan Katsina, Buhari joined the Nigerian military instead of pursuing a medical degree.

9. Young Cadet: At 19, he was among 70 boys selected for the Nigerian Military Training College in 1962.

10. Trained in England: Buhari underwent officer cadet training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England, in 1962–1963.

11. Commissioned Young: He was commissioned as a second lieutenant at age 20 in January 1963.

12. Nigerian Civil War: Buhari served in the 1st Division during the Nigerian Civil War, participating in key battles in Ogoja and Nsukka.

13. Heavy Casualties: His unit suffered significant losses protecting food supply routes during the war’s Awka sector operations.

14. 1975 Coup: Buhari was part of the coup that brought General Murtala Mohammed to power in 1975.

15. Governor at 32: He became the first Governor of Borno State in 1976 at age 32 after the North-Eastern State split.

16. Petroleum Commissioner: Appointed Federal Commissioner for Petroleum in 1976, he oversaw major infrastructure investments.

17. NNPC Chairman: Buhari was the first chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation from 1977 to 1978.

18. US Army War College: He earned a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1980.

19. 1983 Coup Leader: Buhari led the military coup that overthrew the Second Nigerian Republic in December 1983.

20. Head of State: He served as Nigeria’s military head of state from December 1983 to August 1985.

21. War Against Indiscipline: Launched in 1984, his War Against Indiscipline (WAI) aimed to enforce public morality and civic responsibility.

22. Harsh Decrees: His regime’s Decree Number 2 allowed detention without charges for up to three months.

23. Press Crackdown: Decree Number 4 in 1984 targeted journalists with fines and jail for publishing “false” reports.

24. Fela Kuti’s Arrest: Buhari’s government jailed musician Fela Kuti for 18 months on charges Amnesty International called “spurious.”

25. Mass Retrenchment: About 200,000 civil servants were retrenched under his administration by October 1984.

26. Anti-Corruption Purge: Over 500 politicians, officials, and businessmen were jailed for corruption during his 20-month rule.

27. Economic Reforms: His Buharism policy promoted import substitution and self-employment but led to industrial slowdowns.

28. IMF Rejection: Buhari refused IMF demands to devalue the naira by 60%, opting for stricter domestic reforms.

29. Expulsion of Migrants: In 1985, his regime expelled 700,000 illegal foreigners, sparking a crisis named “El Buhari” in Niger.

30. 1985 Coup: Overthrown by Ibrahim Babangida in August 1985, Buhari was detained in Benin City until 1988.

31. Detention Conditions: He spent three years in a guarded bungalow with access to a two-channel television.

32. Katsina Foundation: Post-detention, Buhari became the pioneer chairman of the Katsina Foundation to promote development.

33. PTF Chairman: As Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund in the 1990s, he oversaw transparent developmental projects.

34. Multiple Presidential Runs: Buhari contested for president in 2003, 2007, and 2011 before winning in 2015.

35. Historic Victory: His 2015 win marked the first time an incumbent Nigerian president (Goodluck Jonathan) lost re-election.

36. 2019 Re-election: Buhari defeated Atiku Abubakar by over 3 million votes in the 2019 presidential election.

37. Health Challenges: He sought medical treatment in the UK multiple times, including a 104-day stay in 2017.

38. Boko Haram Fight: His administration secured the release of 103 Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2016–2017.

39. Anti-Corruption War: Over 600 figures, including judges and military officers, were convicted for corruption from 2015 to 2020.

40. Social Welfare Program: Launched the National Social Investment Program in 2016 to support vulnerable populations.

41. N-Power Initiative: His N-Power program provided job training and stipends to young Nigerians to boost employment.

42. Ruga Controversy: His administration’s Ruga policy to settle Fulani herders was suspended due to opposition from southern states.

43. Twitter Ban: In 2021, his government banned Twitter after it deleted his post threatening violence against Biafra insurgents.

44. Signature Forgery: A 2023 lawsuit revealed a $6.2 million theft from the Central Bank using Buhari’s forged signature.

45. First Lady Office: He vowed to abolish the First Lady office in 2014 but allowed Aisha Buhari to operate it.

46. Controversial Remark: In 2016, Buhari said his wife “belongs to my kitchen” while standing next to Angela Merkel.

47. Plagiarism Scandal: His 2016 speech for the “Change Begins With Me” campaign was found to be plagiarized from Obama’s 2009 speech.

48. Chadian Incursion: In 1983, he pursued Chadian forces into their territory against President Shagari’s orders.

49. Umaru Dikko Affair: His regime attempted to kidnap Umaru Dikko from London in 1984, foiled by British authorities.

50. Peaceful Handover: In 2023, Buhari handed over power to Bola Tinubu, retiring to his farm in Daura.