After 30 years, Buhari returns to power as Nigeria’s elected president

Nearly 30 years after he was ousted from power, and after three failed attempts to return, Muhammadu Buhari, one of Nigeria’s oldest former army generals and dictator, who embraced democracy and politics at the break of the 21st century, was sworn into office today as the nation’s 15th leader.

At exactly 10:45a.m. Friday, Mr. Buhari was inaugurated as the second Nigerian after Olusegun Obasanjo, to lead the nation as a military officer, and later a civilian president.

He also joined the ranks of opposition leaders in Africa – Frederick Chiluba (Zambia, 1991); John Kufour (Ghana 2000); Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal, 2000); Mwai Kibaki (Kenya, 2002); Yayi Boni (Benin Republic, 2006); Ernest Bai Koroma (Sierra Leone, 2007); Alhassan Quattara (Cote d’Ivoire, 2010); and Peter Mutharika (Malawi, 2014) — who defeated incumbents in the last two decades.

Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of law, a senior advocate of Nigeria and pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, was sworn in as Vice President on Friday.

At an elaborate event witnessed by several world leaders at the Eagles Square, Abuja, Nigeria made history, transferring power peacefully and democratically from a ruling party to an opposition – the first time it would happen in all of Nigeria’s 55 years of post-independence history.