Muhammadu Buhari

In March 2015, Nigerian voters stunned the world by electing for the first time a president from an opposition party. With his victory, Muhammadu Buhari inspired hopes, both home and abroad, that Nigeria might be on the path to reform. But who is President Buhari? and how is he addressing the challenges that Nigeria faces? These challenges include the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, widespread corruption, a drastic fall in oil revenue, and the deeper political issues of resetting democratic federalism in Nigeria. This volume traces Buhari's path to the presidency, from his childhood in Daura in the far north of the country through his fight for national unity during the civil war, the twenty months he spent as military head of state, his subsequent three years in detention, and his eventual reemergence as a civil society leader and a four-time presidential candidate. The book then focuses on President Buhari's first year in office, analyzing the formidable challenges facing him and assessing the measured but often bold steps he has taken to lead Nigeria toward a brighter future. A charismatic figure, President Buhari is seen by millions of young people as both a symbol and a leader of reform. He has emerged as a principled, energetic, and effective statesman, rallying international support as Nigeria seeks to transform itself.