History of Muhammadu Buhari in Timeline

Muhammadu Buhari is a retired Nigerian politician and a former major general in the Nigerian Army. He served as Nigeria's president from 2015 to 2023. Prior to his presidency, he was the country's military head of state from December 31, 1983, to August 27, 1985, following a military coup.

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Full Timeline

1971: Buhari Marries Safinatu Yusuf

In 1971, Buhari married his first wife, Safinatu (née Yusuf), and they had five children together.

1988: Buhari and Safinatu Divorce

In 1988, Buhari and his first wife Safinatu divorced.

December 1989: Buhari Marries Aisha Halilu

In December 1989, Buhari married his second and current wife, Aisha Buhari (née Halilu), and they had five children together.

January 2006: Death of Safinatu Buhari

On January 2006, Safinatu, Buhari's first wife, died from complications of diabetes.

2009: Obama's inaugural speech

President Barack Obama's inaugural speech was delivered in 2009. In September 2016 President Buhari was accused of plagiarizing the speech.

November 2012: Death of Zulaihat Buhari Junaid

In November 2012, Buhari's first daughter, Zulaihat (née Buhari) Junaid, died from sickle cell anaemia shortly after having a baby.

December 2014: Buhari Promises to Abolish the Office of the First Lady

In December 2014, Muhammadu Buhari stated that he would abolish the office of the First Lady if elected president, deeming it unconstitutional.

May 2015: Buhari assumes presidency

Since assuming the presidency on May 2015, Buhari has yet to terminate the office of the First Lady and Aisha Buhari operates from the office of the First Lady as "wife of the President".

2015: Buhari Declares Assets

In 2015, Buhari declared his assets, including US$150,000 in cash, five homes, two mud houses, farms, an orchard, a ranch with livestock, shares in three firms, two undeveloped plots of land, and two cars bought from his savings.

2015: MEND Commends Buhari's Plan to Abolish First Lady's Office

In 2015, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) endorsed Buhari and commended him for planning to abolish the office of the First Lady, labeling it as fraudulent and unconstitutional.

September 2016: Buhari Accused of Plagiarism

In September 2016, President Buhari faced heavy criticism after a newspaper reported that he plagiarized a speech during the launch of a national re-orientation campaign called "Change begins with me". The speech was found to be lifted from Barack Obama's 2009 inaugural speech.

2017: Buhari Honored with Chieftaincy Titles

In 2017, the South-East council of traditional rulers honored President Buhari with the chieftaincy titles of the Enyioma I of Ebonyi and the Ochioha I of Igboland, adding to his existing title of Ogbuagu I of Igboland.

June 2021: Twitter Deletes Buhari's Post, Nigerian Government Bans Twitter

In June 2021, after Buhari made a Twitter post threatening violence, Twitter deleted his comments for violating its terms of service. Subsequently, the Nigerian government banned Twitter from the country.

August 2021: Yusuf Buhari's Wedding

In August 2021, Yusuf Buhari married Zahra Nasir Bayero, the daughter of Emir Nasiru Ado Bayero.

January 2022: Nigeria Lifts Ban on Twitter

In January 2022, the Nigerian government lifted its ban on Twitter after Twitter agreed to register its operations in Nigeria and pay tax.

July 2025: Death of Muhammadu Buhari

On July 2025, Muhammadu Buhari died in London, United Kingdom, while receiving medical treatment, at the age of 82. His time as president was marked by controversy and economic challenges.