Deceased former Nigeria leader, Muhammadu Buhari, on several bases qualified to be called a man of destiny.
For one, he was four years old when his father died.
He also made history by surviving a coup plot and a most critical health issue when he was President.
Here are other key facts about the unique life of the departed colossus (as culled from ‘The Nation’:
1. Buhari was born to a Muslim family on December 17, 1942. He was 82.
3. He was named after the ninth-century Islamic scholar Muhammad al-Bukhari.
4. Buhari was four years old when his father died, and Waziri Alhassan, the son of Emir Musa dan Nuhu, became guardian to Zulaihat and her children.
5. He attended Qur’anic school, where he helped in rearing cattle.
6. He had his primary education in Daura and Mai’Adua and graduated in 1953.
7. He was admitted into Katsina Middle School (later Katsina Provincial Secondary School), where he completed his secondary education from 1956 to 1961.
9. In 1960, he received a scholarship from Elder Dempster Lines for a summer visit to the United Kingdom.
10. In 1962, at age 19, Buhari was one of 70 boys selected for recruitment into the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC).
11. From 1962 to 1963, he trained as an officer cadet at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England.
12. In January 1963, at age 20, he was commissioned a second lieutenant, appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, and attended the Platoon Commanders’ Course in Kaduna.
13. From 1965 to 1967, Buhari commanded the Second Infantry Battalion and was appointed brigade major of the Second Sector, First Infantry Division.
14. In the 2003 Presidential Election, Buhari ran under the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and lost to President Olusegun Obasanjo (PDP) by over 11 million votes.
15. In the 2007 Presidential Election, he was again ANPP’s candidate. He received 18% of the vote against Umaru Yar’Adua (PDP).
16. In the 2011 Presidential Election, after founding the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari ran against Goodluck Jonathan. He came second with over 12 million votes.
17. In the 2015 Presidential Election, Buhari contested as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate. He won the election after Jonathan conceded and was sworn in on May 29, 2015.
18. In the 2019 Presidential Election, Buhari was re-elected for a second term, inaugurated on May 29, 2019, in Abuja.
19. Buhari frequently travelled to the UK for medical treatment, including a 104-day stay in 2017.
21. In 1988, Buhari and his first wife, Safinatu, divorced. Safinatu later died in 2006.
22. In December 1989, Buhari married his second and current wife, Aisha Buhari (née Halilu).
