Nigeria’s former president Muhammadu Buhari, who died at the age of 82 in a London clinic, leaves behind a complex legacy defined by personal discipline, anti-corruption rhetoric, and deep political divisions. A former military ruler turned elected president, Buhari symbolized the hope of a new Nigeria for millions, yet his time in office was marked by missed opportunities and widespread disillusionment.
Born in December 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, near Nigeria’s northern border with Niger, Muhammadu Buhari came from modest roots. He was the 23rd child of his Fulani father and the 13th of his Kanuri mother. Buhari lost his father at the age of four and was raised by his mother. Educated in Katsina, he later joined the Nigerian Military Training College shortly after Nigeria gained independence in 1960.
Between 1962 and 1963, Buhari underwent officer training in the United Kingdom. His military career progressed steadily, and by the mid-1970s, he had served as military governor of the north-east and later as federal commissioner for petroleum and natural resources. His disciplinarian values, shaped by military life and boarding school, became his defining traits. These attributes later endeared him to millions of Nigerians, particularly among the poor in the north—known as the talakawa.
In 1983, following a coup against elected President Shehu Shagari, Buhari emerged as Nigeria’s military head of state. Though he claimed not to be part of the plotters, many believe he played a more active role than he admitted. His 20-month rule was characterized by a ruthless anti-corruption campaign. Roughly 500 officials and businessmen were jailed, and Buhari introduced draconian laws limiting press freedom. Journalists were jailed, including Nigeria’s legendary musician Fela Kuti, who was arrested on questionable charges.
Buhari’s administration also implemented economic austerity measures. A notorious example was the replacement of Nigeria’s currency notes to curb corruption, which triggered chaos and job losses. Civil servants who arrived late were publicly humiliated, and soldiers enforced queues at bus stops. While many viewed his campaign as repressive, others praised it as a much-needed purge of Nigeria’s endemic corruption.
In 1985, Buhari was overthrown in a palace coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida. He was imprisoned for 40 months, but the experience didn’t end his public career. In the late 1990s, he reemerged as a civilian politician, now advocating for multiparty democracy. Despite defending the 1983 coup throughout his life, Buhari claimed that seeing the collapse of the Soviet Union had convinced him of the merits of democratic governance.
After three unsuccessful attempts, Buhari made history in 2015 by defeating the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan—becoming Nigeria’s first opposition candidate to win a presidential election since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Running under the All Progressives Congress (APC), his campaign centered on promises to fight corruption, restore security, and revive the economy.
Buhari’s military background and reputation for personal integrity struck a chord with many Nigerians, especially in the north. His victory was bolstered by a unified opposition coalition and widespread frustration with the existing administration. His 2015 win was hailed globally as a milestone for Nigerian democracy.
However, the optimism quickly gave way to disappointment. Buhari’s administration coincided with a slump in global oil prices, plunging Nigeria into its worst economic crisis in decades. Inflation soared, unemployment rose, and two recessions occurred under his watch. A controversial ban on rice imports—intended to boost local production—ended up driving food inflation. A 50kg bag of rice, once 7,500 naira under Jonathan, soared to as high as 60,000 naira under Buhari, leading to widespread hunger and disillusionment. One viral street interview summed up public sentiment when respondents, asked to name Buhari’s legacy, responded in unison: “Bag of rice.”
Security also deteriorated during his presidency. Despite early gains against Boko Haram, the insurgency evolved, with splinter group ISWAP aligning with the Islamic State. Kidnappings surged in the northwest, and violent clashes between Fulani herders and farmers escalated. Buhari, a Fulani himself, was accused of inaction and favoritism in addressing the crisis.
His presidency was marred by other security controversies. In October 2020, during the #EndSARS anti-police brutality protests, soldiers reportedly opened fire on unarmed demonstrators at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos. The incident drew international condemnation and renewed scrutiny of human rights under Buhari’s government.
One of his greatest public criticisms came from within his own household. At one point, his wife, Aisha Buhari, threatened to withdraw support for his re-election bid due to dissatisfaction with his leadership and those surrounding him. Buhari, nicknamed “Baba go slow,” drew criticism for his sluggish administrative style—especially after taking six months to appoint a cabinet in 2015. Defending himself in 2018, he said, “It’s not Baba that is slow, but the system.”
Health challenges also impacted Buhari’s leadership. During his first term, he spent long stretches in London receiving medical treatment. His government refused to share details, prompting questions about his capacity to govern. The lack of transparency clashed with the democratic values he had come to champion.
The twilight of his presidency further dented his legacy. Ahead of the 2023 elections, Buhari appeared ambivalent about who should succeed him. Although he publicly pledged neutrality, insiders suggested he did little to support APC candidate Bola Tinubu. The introduction of the controversial “naira redesign” policy just before the elections, aimed ostensibly at curbing vote-buying, led to widespread cash shortages. Many believed it was a strategic move to undermine Tinubu’s candidacy.
The scarcity caused by the policy led to economic paralysis and hardship, particularly among the poor who rely on cash transactions. It took a Supreme Court ruling to suspend the policy—just days before the election. Tinubu eventually won with only 37% of the vote, as the opposition was fractured.
Despite these missteps, Buhari retained a core of loyal supporters who admired his perceived honesty and dedication. Throughout his time in office, he claimed to have rejected numerous opportunities for personal enrichment and publicly declared his modest assets. Yet, critics questioned whether his war against corruption was truly systemic or merely symbolic. While some prominent officials were prosecuted, many accused Buhari’s government of selective justice.
Even in death, Buhari’s legacy continues to divide opinion. To some, he was a rare leader in Nigeria’s chequered history who lived simply and tried to instill discipline in public life. To others, he was a man out of touch with the democratic and economic demands of a complex nation—an upright individual who presided over a government marred by underperformance, insecurity, and economic hardship.
Muhammadu Buhari is survived by his wife, Aisha Halilu, whom he married in 1989, and ten children. His first marriage, to Safinatu Yusuf, ended in divorce in 1988.
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