Muhammadu Buhari: From barracks to the highest office

The visiting Nigerian leader has a military history that stretches back to 1961 and a political track record that dates back to 1966.

President Muhammadu Buhari who climbed to the helm of power in Nigeria after winning 53.9 per cent of the votes in the March 28, 2015 presidential election has a rich military and, political career. Born on December 17, 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, in northern Nigeria, President Buhari studied largely in Katsina. He took military training in Kaduna, Great Britain, India and the United States.

In effect, he joined the Nigerian Army in 1961 and served in the following capacities: Commander of the second infantry battalion, Major Brigadier second sector, 1st infantry Division, Major Brigadier 3rd infantry Division, Commander 31st infantry Brigade, Deputy Adjutant, 1st infantry Division, Director of Transportation and Supply in the Nigerian Army, Military Secretary, army headquarters and member of the Supreme Military Council, colonel, General Officer Commanding, 4th infantry Division, General Commanding Officer of the 2nd Mechanised Infantry Division and General Commanding Officer of the 3rd Army Division.

The 72-year old leader has a political history that tells of his steadfastness. President Buhari, politically speaking, is not a quitter. His defeat in three previous elections did not discourage him. His political career dates back to 1975 when he played a major rule in the coup d’état led by Lieutenant-col. Murtala Muhammed which ousted General Yakubu Gowon.

In August 1975, Buhari was subsequently appointed Governor of the North East State (now Borno State). A year later, he was appointed federal commissioner for petroleum resources by Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who became military head of state when Gowon’s successor, Murtala Mohammed was assassinated in 1976.

He attained the highest height of his political career in 1983 when he overthrew the democratically elected President Shehu Shagari justifying on grounds that the civilian government was corrupt. Buhari’s reign was marked by radical measures including the “war against indiscipline” during which culprits were wiped by soldiers, latecomer official humiliated with punishment and cheating students punished with prison sentences of up to 20 years.

He is remembered for having sent 500 people behind bars including the famous Nigerian singer Fela Kuti Ramson for money laundering. He put an end to the country’s relations with the International Monetary Fund which asked him to devalue the Naira by 60 percent.

In August, 1985, Muhammadu Buhari saw his reign terminated by another coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida and other members of the Supreme military Council. This did not however put an end to his political career, for after being locked up in prison in Benin City until 1988. He resumed political activity and stood for Presidential election in 2003 where he lost to Olusegun Obasanjo. He contested again unsuccessfully in 2007 and 2011. His dream of becoming President under democratic principles became true in March, 2015.

Muhammadu Buhari, is a Muslim faithful and is not known to be a radical even though in 2011, he supported the extension of the Sharia law in the northern states of Nigeria. He is the last child in a family of 23.