NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, a military general-turned-democrat whose political journey defined an era, has died at the age of 82 in a London clinic, his family confirmed.
Buhari, who had traveled to the UK in April for a routine check-up, reportedly became critically ill and never recovered. His passing marks the end of a long and complex legacy that stretched from barracks to ballot boxes and back into history.
A man of contradictions, Buhari spent decades straddling the military and political landscapes of Nigeria. As a stern general, he took power in a 1983 coup and ruled with an iron fist. As a civilian, he became the first opposition candidate in Nigerian history to unseat a sitting president, winning the 2015 elections and securing re-election in 2019.
He was never the warmest politician in the room. Known for his ascetic demeanor and deliberate pace, he earned the nickname “Baba Go Slow” after taking six months to appoint a cabinet. But his brand was built on perceived incorruptibility, a rare commodity in Nigerian politics. That image, however, came under strain during his presidency as economic woes, rising insecurity, and public frustration mounted.
Buhari was born in December 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, then part of British-controlled Nigeria. His early life was shaped by loss and resilience—his father died when he was four, leaving his Kanuri mother to raise him and his many siblings. After schooling in Katsina, he entered the military academy, beginning a disciplined rise through the ranks.
During Nigeria’s turbulent coups of the 1960s and ’70s, Buhari served with increasing responsibility. By his mid-30s, he had become military governor of the northeast, and later, oil minister under Olusegun Obasanjo.
In December 1983, after Nigeria’s democracy faltered, Buhari took the reins of power through a military coup. His 20-month rule was defined by his rigid anti-corruption drive—and harsh authoritarianism. He jailed hundreds of officials, ordered currency changes to flush out illicit funds, and famously made tardy civil servants do frog jumps.
Critics labeled him a dictator. He jailed music icon Fela Kuti on dubious charges and suppressed press freedoms. But others saw a no-nonsense leader determined to instill order.
In 1985, Buhari was ousted in another coup and spent 40 months in detention. It wasn’t until decades later that he returned to the public stage, rebranding as a democratic reformer. After three failed bids for the presidency, he clinched victory in 2015 with widespread support, especially from northern Nigeria.
He promised to crush Boko Haram, fight corruption, and create jobs. Yet oil price crashes and economic instability hobbled progress. Banditry, farmer-herder clashes, and kidnappings surged under his watch. His rice import ban, aimed at promoting local farming, backfired—driving prices sky-high. A 50kg bag of rice that once cost 7,500 naira ballooned to over 60,000.
Public confidence waned. Even his wife, Aisha Buhari, publicly criticized his leadership. Yet through it all, Buhari clung to his persona of modesty and principle, insisting his hands were clean.
Toward the end of his term, his health became a concern. He made frequent trips abroad for treatment, rarely disclosing details—fueling speculation and criticism.
Buhari’s final year in office was mired in controversy. A currency swap policy ahead of the 2023 elections triggered cash shortages, fueling suspicions it was aimed at sabotaging his party’s candidate, Bola Tinubu. In the end, Tinubu won, but only narrowly.
Despite two terms as a democratically elected leader, Buhari never fully shed his military past. He often justified his 1983 coup, dismissed claims of authoritarianism, and seemed to view criticism as disloyalty.
He is survived by his wife, Aisha, and 10 children. Buhari leaves behind a deeply divided opinion: to some, a principled patriot; to others, a rigid relic of military rule. Either way, his legacy is woven into the modern Nigerian story.
