  muhammadu buhari (born december 17, 1942) is a nigerian politician and a retired major general in the nigerian army who was the military ruler of nigeria from december 31, 1983 to august 27, 1985. the term buharism is ascribed to the buhari military government. he also ran unsuccessfully for the office of the president of nigeria in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections. his ethnic background is fulani, and his faith is islam; he is a native of daura in katsina state of nigeria. ==minister of petroleum== having joined the army in 1962, buhari first came to widespread public attention in 1976 when he became the minister (or "federal commissioner") for [[petrole
1942_births All_Nigeria_Peoples_Party_politicians Candidates_for_President_of_Nigeria Governors_of_states_in_Nigeria Heads_of_state_of_Nigeria Leaders_ousted_by_a_coup Leaders_who_took_power_by_coup Living_people Nigerian_Fula_people Nigerian_Muslims Nigerian_generals People_from_Katsina_State Recipients_of_Nigeria_Centenary_Awards