Former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on July 13, 2025, was not just a military leader or civilian president. He embodied the spirit of perseverance. After suffering three electoral defeats, he made history in 2015 when he emerged victorious in a general election, becoming the first opposition candidate to unseat an incumbent president in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
From Modest Beginnings
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari was the 23rd child of a Fulani chief, Mallam Hardo Adamu, and Zulaihat Musa. Orphaned at the age of four, he was raised by his mother with the support of a guardian, Waziri Alhassan.
His early years were rooted in Islamic values and rural responsibilities, including Qur’anic schooling and cattle rearing. He later attended primary schools in Daura and Mai’Adua. In 1956, he was admitted to Katsina Provincial Secondary School, where he distinguished himself as a student leader, eventually becoming head boy before graduating in 1961.
Soldier and Statesman
In 1962, Buhari joined Course 5 of the Nigerian Military Training College, now the Nigerian Defence Academy. He later received officer cadet training in the United Kingdom at Aldershot and Bordon. His military education also took him to the Staff College in India in 1973 and the U.S. Army War College between 1979 and 1980, where he earned a postgraduate-level diploma.
On December 31, 1983, as General Officer Commanding the 3rd Armoured Division, Buhari led a coup that overthrew President Shehu Shagari and brought Nigeria’s Second Republic to an abrupt end.
His administration introduced the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), a campaign aimed at instilling civic responsibility and accountability. It enforced measures such as queueing in public spaces, promptness, and financial probity. However, the regime was criticised for curbing press freedom through Decree No. 4 and detaining political opponents.
Buhari’s rule was short-lived. He was removed from office in another military coup on August 27, 1985, led by General Ibrahim Babangida. Buhari was detained in Benin City and remained in custody until 1988.
Political Resilience
With the return of democracy in 1999, Buhari entered partisan politics. He contested the presidency three times before eventually achieving victory.
In 2003, as the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), he lost to President Olusegun Obasanjo, securing 12.7 million votes to Obasanjo’s 24.5 million.
In 2007, he ran again under the ANPP but came third behind Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, receiving only 18 percent of the votes.
In 2011, after forming the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari lost to President Goodluck Jonathan and again challenged the result in court.
Despite three losses, Buhari remained undeterred. In 2013, he led the merger of opposition parties into the All Progressives Congress (APC), becoming its presidential flag bearer.
In the 2015 general election held on March 28 and 29, Buhari won with 15,424,921 votes (53.96 percent), defeating the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan, who polled 12,853,162 votes (44.96 percent). The election marked the first time in Nigeria’s history that an incumbent president lost at the polls.
Focus on Education and Youth
During his tenure as president, Buhari prioritised education and youth empowerment.
In 2023, he approved ₦320.3 billion for public tertiary institutions through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)—the highest allocation in the Fund’s history. Over ₦1.7 trillion was disbursed under his administration, surpassing the ₦1.2 trillion allocated between 1993 and 2014.
He also approved ₦7.5 billion for research grants in 2020 to boost academic research in Nigerian institutions.
His administration expanded the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, aimed at improving school enrolment and reducing child labour. The N-Power initiative, launched in 2016, provided vocational training and temporary employment for hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians.
A Life of Discipline and Integrity
Throughout his career, Buhari was known for his strict personal discipline, spartan lifestyle, and zero-tolerance stance on corruption. His leadership, though often polarising, was marked by a firm commitment to order and accountability.
Kaduna State’s former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, described him as a man of vision and determination.
“Despite disappointment in three previous presidential elections, he summoned the vision and energy to construct a new coalition that birthed the APC in 2013. He ultimately recorded a first in Nigerian history, defeating an incumbent president in 2015,” El-Rufai said.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo mourned Buhari as a statesman whose experience was invaluable.
“It’s a great loss for the nation because at a time like this, we need the totality of the experience and what I may call statesmanship of all those who have had the opportunity to run the affairs of this country,” Obasanjo said.
Garba Shehu, his former spokesman, described him as:
“An incorruptible servant of the people. He was not motivated by pride or riches. He was drawn to public service, discipline, patriotism, and the unity of Nigeria.”
Former Minister Babatunde Fashola noted:
“What often went unnoticed in public commentary was his unwavering commitment to the core values that bind any serious society: order, punctuality, and accountability. He did not just talk about these values; he lived them.”
The Legacy of Perseverance
Muhammadu Buhari’s political journey is a testament to determination and resilience. From military barracks to detention, and from electoral defeats to the pinnacle of democratic victory, he never wavered in his pursuit of leadership.
His life story is a lesson in patience, sacrifice, and the enduring power of belief. For Nigeria’s younger generation, it is a reminder that even in defeat, one can rise again—and make history.
