He is the 23rd child of his father. Buhari was
raised by his mother, after his father died
when he was about three or four years old.
He had 10 children (two are deceased).
Buhari undertook military training in three
countries (the United States, India and the
United Kingdom).
He reared cattle as a young boy.
He has eight military medals.
He knew his successor, Ibrahim Babangida,
was going to overthrow his government.
He was imprisoned by Babangida for nearly
four years.
His mother died in 1988 while he was in
detention and was not allowed to attend her
funeral.
He was one of the two private African
individuals to be invited to US President,
Barack Obama’s inauguration.
In 1983, when Chadian forces invaded Borno
State, Buhari used soldiers under his
command to chase them out of the country,
crossing into Chadian territory in spite of an
order given by President Shehu Shagari to
withdraw.
He rejected an offer to work with the late
President Umaru Yar’Adua’s government.
He appointed the current Senate President as
the Governor of Niger State in 1984.
At 72, he would be the oldest person to ever
rule Nigeria. The youngest being Gen.
Yakubu Gowon at the age of 32.
He is the third Fulani person to rule Nigeria.
He had military training alongside a former
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina-
Alu.
