Former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has died in London on Sunday, at about 4.30 pm, following a prolonged illness.
Buhari, who died at the age of 82 was born in December 1942 in Daura town of Katsina state, in northern Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu officially announced the passing of his predecessor on Sunday, describing him as “a patriot, a soldier, a statesman” with a “deep commitment to the unity and progress” of his country.
Tinubu said he spoke with Mrs. Aishatu Buhari, the former President’s widow and offered his deep condolences.
President Tinubu has directed his vice, Kashim Shettima to proceed to United Kingdom to accompany Buhari’s remains back to Nigeria.
The late Buhari was twice elected Nigeria’s President in 2015 and 2023 under the umbrella of the All Peoples Congress (APC), the current ruling party. In his first tenure in office, his leadership was characterized by prolonged absences for medical treatment, the controversial occurred in 2017, when he spent several months in the UK for an undisclosed ailment.
Prior to winning in 2015, he contested and lost twice; in 2007 under the umbrella of APP, and in 2011 under the CPC, a party he championed its formation.
Buhari, a retired Major-General, ruled Nigeria as a military Head of State when he seized power in 1984 from a civilian president, Shehu Shagari. His military regime was toppled in a palace military coup by General Ibrahim Babangida in 1985.
During his repressive military reign, Buhari introduced decrees that restricted freedom of speech and press freedom, leading to imprisonment of many journalists.
