ONE year after his passing, Nigeria once again pauses to reflect on the life and times of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a man whose journey through the nation’s history mirrored many of the country’s own contradictions celebrated by millions as a symbol of discipline, integrity and commitment to national service, yet criticised by others over the economic difficulties, security challenges and governance concerns that characterised parts of his administration.
Buhari’s first anniversary remembrance on Monday, July 13, 2026, is more than a ceremonial occasion; it is a moment for Nigerians to revisit the remarkable story of a leader whose political career spanned military rule, years of opposition politics, repeated electoral battles and ultimately the highest democratic office in the country. His rise from a young officer in Daura to a military Head of State and later a two-term elected President remains one of the most defining political journeys in Nigeria’s history.
In this Sunday feature, News Point Nigeria dissects the life and times of the man, and also breaks down the figures, events and defining moments that shaped Muhammadu Buhari’s extraordinary journey, examining the milestones, controversies, achievements, disappointments and the enduring debate surrounding the legacy of a leader whose name remains deeply woven into Nigeria’s political history.
Across Nigeria, families, political associates, government officials and admirers are gathering for prayers and reflections in honour of the late leader. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other dignitaries will join in remembering the former President through interfaith and interdenominational prayer sessions.
A tribute book dedicated to Buhari’s life and contributions is also being unveiled as part of activities marking the remembrance.
In Daura, his hometown in Katsina State, a memorial lecture and prayer session will be held to celebrate his life.
The gatherings wil become moments not only to mourn his passing but also to revisit the questions that surrounded his leadership, what he achieved, what he attempted, where he succeeded and where expectations remained unmet.
Few Nigerian leaders attracted such sharply different descriptions as Muhammadu Buhari.
To his supporters, he was the incorruptible soldier, a man of simplicity, discipline and personal restraint who represented an alternative to what many considered decades of political excess.
To his critics, he was a leader whose administration struggled to match expectations, especially in the areas of economic management, security and institutional reform.
He was described as stern, quiet, disciplined, uncompromising, conservative, reserved and principled. His personality was unmistakable. Unlike many politicians who thrived on public appearances and elaborate speeches, Buhari built his public image around silence, personal discipline and an almost military sense of order.
That personality followed him throughout his political journey.
Born in Daura, Katsina State, in 1942, Muhammadu Buhari rose from a modest background to become one of Nigeria’s most influential figures.
He was the 23rd child of Mallam Hardo Adamu Buhari and was named after the famous Islamic scholar Muhammad al-Bukhari.
Following the death of his father, Buhari was raised under the guardianship of Waziri Alhazan, son of Emir Musa dan Nuhu, who took responsibility for his mother and her children.
His early education began at a Quranic school before he proceeded to primary education in Daura and Mai’Adua. He later attended Katsina Middle School, which eventually became Katsina Provincial Secondary School.
From those early beginnings, Buhari embarked on a military journey that would eventually place him at the centre of Nigeria’s political history.
At just 19 years old, Buhari was among the young Nigerians selected for military training at the Nigerian Military Training College.
His military education took him beyond Nigeria’s shores, including training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England, the Army Mechanical Transport School in Britain and later the United States Army War College, where he earned a master’s degree in Strategic Studies.
He quickly rose through the military ranks, earning a reputation as a disciplined officer with strong organisational instincts.
Before becoming Head of State, Buhari served in several important positions, including as military governor and Federal Commissioner for Petroleum under the administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo.
His experience in the oil sector gave him an early understanding of one of Nigeria’s most important and most contested resources.
In December 1983, Major General Muhammadu Buhari became one of the leading figures in the military coup that ended Nigeria’s Second Republic.
The coup leaders accused the civilian government of corruption, economic mismanagement and indiscipline.
Buhari emerged as Head of State, with Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon serving as Chief of General Staff.
The administration quickly introduced policies designed to restore order and discipline. Its most remembered initiative was the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), a campaign aimed at changing public behaviour and enforcing social responsibility.
Supporters viewed the programme as necessary medicine for a country they believed had lost its moral direction.
Some opposition figures, however, argued that some of the methods used were excessively authoritarian and reflected the limitations of military rule.
The government also introduced strict economic measures and maintained tight control over public expression, including restrictions on media freedom.
But Buhari’s first stay in power was short-lived.
In August 1985, less than two years after taking office, he was removed in another military coup led by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
Following his overthrow, Buhari spent years in detention in Benin City before eventually returning to public life.
When Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, Buhari entered politics as a civilian opposition figure.
His transition from military ruler to democratic politician was not immediate success.
He contested presidential elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011 but lost each time.
For many politicians, repeated electoral defeats would have marked the end of the journey.
For Buhari, however, persistence became a defining characteristic.
His supporters saw him as a victim of a flawed political system and believed that Nigeria needed his discipline and honesty.
His critics questioned whether his military background could translate effectively into democratic leadership.
Yet, Buhari remained determined.
In 2013, his political movement joined forces with other opposition parties, including the Action Congress of Nigeria and others, leading to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
That coalition transformed Nigeria’s political landscape.
In 2015, Buhari achieved what had previously appeared impossible, defeating an incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, and becoming Nigeria’s first opposition candidate to successfully remove a sitting president through an election.
His victory represented a historic moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
For millions of Nigerians frustrated by corruption allegations, insecurity and dissatisfaction with the ruling party, Buhari’s emergence represented hope for a new beginning.
They believed the former military leader possessed the character and determination needed to rebuild the country.
The expectations were enormous.
Nigeria was waiting to see whether the qualities that made Buhari popular as a military leader could successfully translate into democratic governance.
When Muhammadu Buhari entered the Presidential Villa in 2015, he did so carrying the hopes of millions of Nigerians who had waited for years for his return to power.
For many supporters, Buhari was not merely another politician. He represented an idea, the belief that a leader with a reputation for personal discipline, military experience and a tough stance against corruption could rescue Nigeria from what they considered years of poor governance.
His supporters believed his personal character would become the foundation for a new political culture.
They expected him to restore accountability, strengthen institutions, defeat insecurity, rebuild infrastructure and create an economy that worked for ordinary Nigerians.
But governing Nigeria proved far more complicated than many imagined.
The same country that welcomed Buhari with enormous expectations presented him with deep structural challenges — falling oil prices, economic shocks, insecurity, institutional weaknesses and political complexities that tested his leadership style.
The Buhari years would eventually become a mixture of achievements and disappointments, progress and criticism, hope and frustration.
Throughout his presidency, Buhari repeatedly demonstrated that he was conscious of how history would judge his administration.
He often reminded ministers, advisers and government officials that governance was not about promises alone but about measurable results.
His administration developed performance monitoring mechanisms aimed at ensuring that ministries, departments and agencies delivered on government priorities.
The creation of structures such as the Central Delivery Coordinating Unit reflected Buhari’s belief that government should move beyond policies written on paper to actual implementation.
At ministerial retreats and government meetings, he consistently challenged officials to improve execution, insisting that the success of his administration would ultimately depend on what Nigerians could see and feel.
One of his strongest messages was that government must focus on long-term national development rather than temporary political gains.
That approach reflected the personality that defined Buhari throughout his public life, a leader more comfortable with systems and structures than political theatrics.
Perhaps the most visible part of Buhari’s legacy was infrastructure.
Across the country, his administration embarked on major projects in transportation, roads, railways, airports and power.
For many Nigerians, especially those outside major cities, the physical presence of federal projects became one of the strongest reminders of Buhari’s eight years in office.
The administration prioritised railway development, including the expansion of Nigeria’s rail network, with the argument that modern transportation infrastructure was critical for economic growth.
Road rehabilitation and construction also became a major feature of the government’s development agenda.
Supporters point to these projects as evidence that Buhari focused on rebuilding national assets and restoring federal presence across the country.
They argue that after years of neglect, his administration laid foundations that future governments would continue to build upon.
However, critics argue that infrastructure alone could not compensate for broader economic difficulties faced by Nigerians during the same period.
For them, development must be measured not only by projects completed but by the daily experiences of citizens.
One of Buhari’s strongest political identities was his reputation as an anti-corruption crusader.
Even before returning to power, many Nigerians viewed him as a leader personally committed to fighting corruption.
Upon assuming office, his administration launched investigations into alleged financial abuses, including controversies surrounding military procurement during the previous administration.
The investigation into the arms procurement scandal, popularly known as “Dasukigate,” became one of the early symbols of Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign.
His government also introduced the whistle-blower policy, encouraging Nigerians to provide information about alleged financial misconduct in exchange for rewards.
The administration recorded several corruption convictions, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announcing numerous successful prosecutions during Buhari’s tenure.
Supporters argued that Buhari succeeded in changing the national conversation around corruption by making accountability a central issue.
They pointed to the prosecution of senior officials and the recovery of some public funds as evidence of his commitment.
However, critics argued that the anti-corruption campaign was selective and that the administration failed to completely reform the political system.
Some questioned why corruption allegations involving individuals close to government did not receive the same attention as those involving opponents.
The controversy reflected a broader debate about whether Buhari’s personal reputation for honesty translated into a comprehensive institutional transformation.
Perhaps the greatest challenge facing Buhari’s presidency was the economy.
When he took office, Nigeria was already heavily dependent on oil revenue, making the country vulnerable to global economic changes.
His administration faced declining oil prices, foreign exchange pressures, recession and later the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporters argue that Buhari inherited a fragile economy and had to navigate extraordinary circumstances beyond his control.
They highlight efforts to diversify the economy, support agriculture, invest in social intervention programmes and encourage domestic production.
The administration launched initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians, including youth empowerment programmes and social investment schemes.
However, critics maintain that economic hardship became one of the defining experiences of the Buhari years.
They point to rising inflation, increased cost of living, unemployment concerns and growing public debt as evidence that economic policies failed to deliver the expected relief.
For many ordinary Nigerians, the biggest question was not about economic theories but daily survival — the price of food, transportation, education and basic necessities.
The debate over Buhari’s economic record remains one of the most contested parts of his legacy.
For a former military general, insecurity became one of the most difficult challenges of Buhari’s presidency.
When he came into office, Boko Haram insurgency was one of Nigeria’s biggest national security threats.
His government recorded successes in reclaiming territories previously controlled by insurgents and strengthening military operations.
Supporters credit his administration with improving Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and restoring government presence in some affected communities.
However, insecurity later expanded beyond Boko Haram.
Banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, separatist violence and communal clashes spread across different regions.
Communities that once felt relatively safe experienced new security threats.
They questioned why insecurity persisted despite Buhari’s military background.
The government, however, maintained that the nature of modern security threats required more than military solutions alone.
Buhari’s democratic record also attracted debate.
While Nigeria maintained democratic institutions during his presidency, critics accused his administration of being intolerant of opposition voices, activists and some media organisations.
His supporters rejected that description, arguing that Buhari respected constitutional processes and allowed democratic institutions to function.
The disagreement reflected a larger question surrounding Buhari’s leadership style: could the discipline and firmness associated with military rule coexist with the openness required in a democracy?
It was a question that followed him from his first appearance in power to his final days as president.
Muhammadu Buhari left office in 2023 after completing two terms and transferring power peacefully to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The handover represented another milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
But even after leaving office, debates over his leadership continued.
To admirers, Buhari remained a symbol of integrity in public life, a leader who avoided personal extravagance, believed in discipline and committed himself to national service.
Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar was among those who praised Buhari’s character after his death, describing him as a man whose honesty and principles were unquestionable.
Abubakar argued that many officials who served under Buhari failed to meet the standards expected by the former president.
Others shared similar views, suggesting that Buhari’s intentions were often better than the performance of some members of his administration.
When Buhari died in London on July 13, 2025, at the age of 82, Nigeria entered a period of national reflection.
His remains became not only a symbol of mourning but also a reminder of his enormous political influence.
From the moment arrangements began for his burial, political calculations emerged.
President Bola Tinubu understood that Buhari’s funeral would attract political attention, particularly with Nigeria approaching another electoral cycle.
The movement of senior government officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and other top officials, reflected the importance of the moment.
Buhari’s death marked the end of an era.
A man who began life as a young military officer, became a military ruler, spent years as an opposition politician and eventually achieved democratic power had completed one of the most remarkable journeys in Nigerian politics.
One year after his passing, Muhammadu Buhari remains a figure impossible to ignore.
His story is not a simple tale of success or failure.
It is the story of a Nigerian leader shaped by military tradition, democratic struggle, national expectations and the realities of governing a complex country.
History will remember the roads and railways built under his watch.
It will remember his anti-corruption promises and the controversies that followed.
It will remember his supporters who saw him as an honest patriot.
It will remember his critics who believed he failed to meet the enormous expectations placed upon him.
Above all, it will remember a man who spent his entire public life trying to define Nigeria’s future, sometimes successfully, sometimes controversially, but always leaving behind a big traces of honesty, transparency and accountability.
Muhammadu Buhari’s greatest legacy may not be a single policy or project.
It may be the question his life continues to ask Nigeria: What kind of leadership does a nation need, and how should history judge those entrusted with its destiny?
As Nigeria marks one year since his departure, the answer remains a subject of national conversation.
But one fact is certain, Muhammadu Buhari was not just a leader who governed Nigeria.
He was a man whose life became a very good part of Nigeria’s political story.