Muhammadu Buhari was many things to Nigerians: a soldier, a military ruler, a democratically elected president, and one of the most controversial figures in Nigeria’s political history.
He first came to power in 1983 through a military coup and returned over three decades later as a civilian president in 2015, marking one of the most unexpected political comebacks in Africa.
On July 13, 2025, news broke that Buhari had died. Nigerians reacted with shock, sympathy, and, if we’re being honest, nonchalance. This wasn’t the first time Buhari’s death had been announced. In fact, over the past decade, his death has been rumoured more times than anyone could count. At one point, conspiracy theorists even claimed the real Buhari had died in London and been replaced by a body double named “Jubril from Sudan.”
But this time, the headlines weren’t rumours or propaganda. The former president had passed away.
Buhari ruled Nigeria for eight years as a civilian president, stepping down in 2023 after completing two terms. To his supporters, he was a symbol of integrity and order, their “Sai Baba”. To his critics, he was aloof, authoritarian, and out of touch with the everyday struggles of Nigerians. His infamous quote being, “Nigerian youths are lazy.”
But behind the public image, the political disparity, the kaftan, and the noise, was a man with a family; wives, children, and loved ones who witnessed the many shades of Buhari that the public rarely saw.
As the country reflects on his passing, many Nigerians are revisiting his legacy as a leader and turning their attention to the family that survived him; the people who shared his home, his name, and his history.
SEE MORE: Life and times of Muhammadu Buhari
Buhari’s first wife, Safinatu Buhari
Long before Aisha Buhari became First Lady, there was Safinatu Buhari, Buhari’s first wife and the original matriarch of his household.
Born in 1952 in Plateau State and raised in Kaduna, Safinatu was just 18 years old when she married Muhammadu Buhari in 1971. She came from a quiet, respectable northern family and was known for her elegance and calm demeanour.
When Buhari became Nigeria’s military Head of State in 1983, Safinatu quietly stepped into the role of First Lady. But she was unlike any First Lady Nigeria had seen. She was soft-spoken, mostly absent from the public eye, and rarely photographed. She preferred to stay behind the scenes, focusing on raising her children and managing the home front.
However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1988, three years after Buhari was overthrown and imprisoned following a military coup. Reports suggest that the separation may have been influenced by ideological and personal differences that widened during his detention.
Safinatu passed away in 2006 at the age of 54, after battling diabetes.
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Safinatu Buhari’s Children
Together, Buhari and Safinatu had five children, although one passed away at a young age. Here’s what we know about them:
1. Zulaihat (Zulai) Buhari
Zulaihat “Zulai” Buhari Junaid (born December 5, 1972 – died November 29, 2012) was the eldest daughter of Buhari and Safinatu. Known for her humility and quiet grace, she was deeply cherished by those close to her.
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Education: She began her schooling in the U.S. as a child, attended Air Force Military School in Lagos, then Queens College, Lagos; later completing high school at Federal Government College, Kaduna. She earned a B.Sc. in Economics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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Career & community work: Zulai worked at African Intercontinental Bank and later for the Ministry of Solid Minerals & Steel in Kaduna. She founded the Hajiya Safinatu Buhari Foundation in memory of her mother, providing assistance to those affected by diabetes.
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Personal life: Married to retired Captain Mahmud Junaid, she was a devoted wife and mother of three; two older children and a newborn at the time of her death. Zulai also bravely lived with sickle-cell anaemia throughout her life.
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Passing: She tragically died at age 40 from sickle-cell complications two days after giving birth in a private Kaduna clinic. Her death deeply impacted Buhari and led to widespread condolences, including from then President Goodluck Jonathan and northern governors.
2. Fatima Buhari
Fatima Buhari, the second daughter of Safinatu and Buhari, has maintained a modest presence in the public eye, but her life is far from low-profile.
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Education & career: She studied medicine at Ahmadu Bello University and later pursued postgraduate training abroad. Her professional journey includes notable roles within both the Nigerian and international health sectors.
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Public service: In 2021, she was appointed as a board member of the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Certified Fraud Examiners of Nigeria (CIFCFEN).
While not as visible as her half-siblings, Fatima’s career suggests she’s quietly contributing to national development, which is impactful.
READ MORE: Buhari says he won’t leave any assets for his children to inherit
3. Hadiza Buhari
4. Safinatu Buhari (Jnr.)
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5. Musa Buhari
Musa reportedly died at a young age from sickle cell anaemia, and not much information is available.
