President Muhammadu Buhari will finally bow out of public service today, 29 May 2023 after nearly half a century of meritorious service to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
President Buhari’s public service started in 1961. He received his military training at the defunct Nigerian Army Training Centre Kaduna (renamed Nigeria Defence Academy in 1964). He further received military training at Mons Officer Cadet School Aldershot, United Kingdom.
He fought in the Nigerian Civil War (July 6, 1967 – 15 January 1970). He held several military command positions in the Nigerian Army from 1970-1975; as Acting Director of, the Nigerian Army Supply and Transport Corps (1974-1975).
He was appointed Military Governor of North-Eastern State (1 August 1975 – 3 February 1976); Military Governor, of Bornu State (3 February 1976 – 15 March 1976); Federal Commissioner of Petroleum And Natural Resources (March 1976 – June 1978); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (1977 – 1978).
President Buhari attended the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in the United States, and gained a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies (1980); Military Secretary, Nigerian Army and Member of the Supreme Military Council (1978 – 1979); General Officer Commanding 4th Infantry Division (August 1980 – January 1981); General Officer Commanding, 2nd Mechanised Infantry Division (January 1981 – October 1981); General Officer Commanding the 3rd Armoured Division Nigerian Army (General Officer Commanding, 4th Infantry Division (August 1980 – January 1981); General Officer Commanding 2nd Mechanised Infantry Division (January 1981 – October 1981); Military Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces (31 December 1983 – 27 August 1985).
He served in the Nigerian Army from 1961 to 1985, and retired with the rank of Major-General. His service in the military was glorious as well as inglorious. His regime was toppled on 26 August 1985. President Buhari spent three years of detention in a small guarded bungalow in Benin, Edo State.
He was appointed Chairman, Petroleum Trust Fund (1996-1998) by General Sani Abacha’s military administration. He veered into the murky waters of Nigerian politics in 2002 and nominated the
Presidential candidate of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) 2003 and 2007 general elections, respectively.
President Buhari was the founder/Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) from 2009 to 31 July 2013. He was the Presidential candidate of the defunct CPC in the 2011 general election.
In 2013 he co-founded the All-ProgressivesCongress with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He was elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief in 2015 under the platform of the APC. He served his first term from 29 May 2015 – 29 May 2019.
He was re-elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2019 for a second term and served from 29 May 2019 – 29 May, 2023.
