Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari passed away on Sunday at a medical facility in London. His death, occurring at 4:30 PM, was announced by his ex-media aide, Garba Shehu, through a post on his X account. Here are a few key facts about Buhari, who served as both a civilian president and a military Head of State in Nigeria: 1. Muhammadu Buhari was born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, and his formative years were characterized by hardships and perseverance. After his father’s death when he was just three years old, he was raised by his older brother and later received schooling arranged by the District Head of Daura. Buhari’s journey in the military led him to prestigious training academies in the United Kingdom, the United States, and India. He participated in a UN peacekeeping mission in the Congo and fought continuously during the Nigerian Civil War, without taking any time off, which earned him admiration for his bravery, perseverance, and leadership skills. In his early to mid-30s, the deceased went on to serve as a military governor and headed the oil sector. He served as a military governor in the former North-East region, held the position of Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, and was the Chairman of the Nigerian National Oil Corporation, which is currently referred to as NNPCL. After leaving the military, the late Buhari entered the political arena and made history in 2015 by becoming the first opposition candidate to win against an incumbent president. To this day, he remains the only candidate not affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party to have held two consecutive presidential terms. Despite facing defeats in his first three presidential elections, Buhari retains significant public backing.
