Things you need to know about President Buhari

Nigeria's former military ruler
Muhammadu Buhari, 72, is not a quitter.
Defeated in the last three elections, he
achieved a historic victory in the 28
March election, becoming the first
opposition candidate to defeat an
incumbent.
Mr Buhari faced President Goodluck
Jonathan, who is from the southern Niger
Delta region, for a second time at the
polls.
This time, he had the advantage of being
the candidate of a united opposition
grouping, the All Progressives Congress
(APC).
The APC attracted heavyweight defectors
from Mr Jonathan's People's Democratic
Party (PDP), which has dominated the
political scene since the end of military
rule in 1999.
'Assassination attempt'
Mr Buhari has always been popular
among the poor of the north (known as
the "talakawa" in the north's Hausa
language).
Now some feel his military background
and his disciplinarian credentials are just
what the whole country needs to get to
grips with the Islamist insurgency in the
north.
A Muslim from Daura in Katsina State,
who has given his support to Sharia in
the north, Mr Buhari has previously had
to deny allegations that he has a radical
Islamist agenda.
This proved a problem for him in the
2003 polls - he failed to secure much
support among Christians in the south,
where he was viewed with some
suspicion.
But having escaped an attack on his
convoy in Kaduna in July 2014, which
bore all the hallmarks of a Boko Haram
assassination attempt, he has promised
to end the insurgency within months if
elected.
He has blamed President Jonathan's
weakness for its escalation and has
refused overtures to participate in talks
with the radical militant group.
His tough stance as a military
commander in 1983 - when some
Nigerian islands were annexed in Lake
Chad by Chadian soldiers - is still
remembered in the north-east, now the
militants' stronghold, after he blockaded
the area and drove off the invaders.
'War Against Indiscipline'
He ruled Nigeria from January 1984 until
August 1985, taking charge after a
military coup in December 1983.
It is a period remembered for a strict
campaign against indiscipline and
corruption, and for its human rights
abuses.

The verdict on Mr Buhari's 20 months as
military ruler is mixed.
About 500 politicians, officials and
businessmen were jailed as part of a
campaign against waste and corruption.
Some saw this as the heavy-handed
repression of military rule.
But others remember it as a praiseworthy
attempt to fight the endemic graft that
prevented Nigeria's development.
He retains a rare reputation for honesty
among Nigeria's politicians, both military
and civilian, largely because of this
campaign.
As part of his "War Against Indiscipline",
he ordered Nigerians to form neat queues
at bus stops, under the sharp eyes of
whip-wielding soldiers.
Civil servants who were late for work
were publicly humiliated by being forced
to do frog jumps.
He also introduced a notorious decree to
restrict press freedom, under which two
journalists were jailed.
However, his attempts to re-balance
public finances by curbing imports led to
many job losses and the closure of
businesses.
As part of anti-corruption measures, he
also ordered that the currency be
replaced - the colour of the naira notes
were changed - forcing all holders of old
notes to exchange them at banks within a
limited period.
Prices rose while living standards fell,
leading to a palace coup by Gen Ibrahim
Babangida on 27 August 1985. Mr Buhari
was imprisoned for 40 months.
Mr Babangida wanted to speed up the
restoration of civilian rule, which Mr
Buhari did not see as a priority.
'Up to the people'
Mr Buhari has continued to defend his
coup of 31 December 1983.
"It is up to the people. If you choose
correct leadership, there won't be any
need for the military regime.
"The military came in when it was
absolutely necessary and the elected
people had failed the country," he said in
October 2005.
When former President Olusegun
Obasanjo was a military ruler in the
1970s, Mr Buhari held the key post of
minister of petroleum affairs.
But the relationship between the former
colleagues cooled as Mr Buhari's coup
ousted a civilian government, led by
Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who won elections
organised by Mr Obasanjo.
This led to continuing questions about Mr
Buhari's commitment to democracy.
Relations between the two former
generals may now thaw following what
seems to be an endorsement for Mr
Buhari from Mr Obasanjo in his recently
released autobiography.
Mr Buhari "would not be a good
economic manager", wrote the politician
who won two presidential elections for
the PDP after 1999 , but "will be a strong,
almost inflexible, and a courageous and
firm leader".



Source
BBC News