Here are ten key facts about the life, leadership, and legacy of the late Nigerian statesman:
1. Twice a National Leader
Muhammadu Buhari is one of the few Nigerians to have led the country both as a military ruler and as a democratically elected president. He first ruled as Head of State from 1984 to 1985 and returned to power as an elected president in 2015, serving two terms until 2023.
2. Born in Katsina in 1942
Buhari was born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, into a Fulani family. He was the 23rd child of his father and lost him at a young age.
3. A Military Officer Turned Politician
Buhari began his career in the Nigerian Army and rose through the ranks, becoming a Major General. He played a key role in the December 1983 coup that overthrew the Shehu Shagari administration.
