Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, is dead.
Mr Buhari died on Sunday at a London hospital, his spokesperson said.
“The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin,” Garba Shehu wrote on X.
Buhari has been sick for weeks and was receiving treatment at the London hospital.
President Bola Tinubu has confirmed Mr Buhari’s passing and has despatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to the UK to accompany the remains of the departed leader to Nigeria.
A statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the passing of his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“President Buhari died today in London at about 4.30 pm, following a prolonged illness.
“President Tinubu has spoken with Mrs Aishat Buhari, the former President’s widow and offered his deep condolences.
“President Tinubu has also ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed to the United Kingdom to accompany President Muhammadu Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.
“Former President Buhari was twice elected Nigeria’s President in 2015 and 2023.
“He also served as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985.
“President Tinubu has ordered flags at half-staff as a mark of respect for the departed leader.”
Nigeria has already demonstrated how and what is to be done when a former head of state dies. Can you imagine Mohammadu Buhari being buried without the sitting president Tinibu? Isn’t that madness and confusion? Who has bewitched some of our country men and women? I am sure they will now sober up and allow Zambia to do what Nigeria is doing.
Are we reading the same article? The President here make the announcement same day, he also dispatched his vice president to accompany the body and further called the widow.
Did HH do any of those things?
Dear Huubie, kindly note that according to the article, it’s Buhari’s family that announced his passing and not President Tinubu. The President went on to merely confirm Buhari’s death as announced by the family. This is exactly how things were done regarding ECL’s passing. There was no way President HH would have gone ahead to make the announcement before hearing first from ECL’s family. What compounded the situation in Zambia is that ECL’s family did not even want to engage President HH. Further more, in as much as a sitting president confirms the death of a former president, all processes & procedures are handled between the late president’s family & cabinet office.
Hello MOG, thank you for your civil reply. I did state that the President made the announcement the SAME day. Hakainde confirmed the news on his Facebook after 24hrs and NEVER addressed the public about ECL death but only on the burial impasse. My other issues were the dispatch of a vice president to accompany the body etc.