Ex-Nigerian Leader pass away due to illness
(MENAFN) Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has passed away in London following a lengthy illness, according to official reports. The 82-year-old, a former military ruler turned elected leader, died on Sunday afternoon at a medical facility in the UK, his spokesman confirmed.
Buhari served as Nigeria’s head of state on two separate occasions—first as a military ruler from 1984 to 1985, and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed deep sadness over the news, stating he received it with “profound sorrow and a heavy heart.” He extended condolences to Buhari’s family, calling him “a patriot, a soldier, a statesman,” and praised his “unwavering dedication” and “deep commitment to the unity and progress” of the nation.
“He stood firm through the most turbulent times... He championed discipline in public service, confronted corruption head-on, and placed the country above personal interest at every turn,” Tinubu stated.
A separate announcement confirmed that Vice President Kashim Shettima has been instructed to travel to the United Kingdom to accompany Buhari’s remains back to Nigeria, where a state funeral will be held.
Buhari first rose to power through a military coup on December 31, 1983, ousting then-President Shehu Shagari. His administration launched a controversial campaign against corruption and public misconduct, which was criticized for alleged human rights violations. One of the most contentious episodes of his early rule was a botched attempt to abduct former minister Umaru Dikko in London, which strained ties with the UK at the time.
Buhari’s political comeback in 2015 marked the first time in Nigerian history that an opposition candidate unseated a sitting president through democratic elections.
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