Outgoing President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has been identified as the last known public figure to visit former President Muhammadu Buhari before his passing on Sunday, July 13, in London.
The visit took place on April 17, 2025, in Kaduna, nearly three months before the former Nigerian leader’s death. Adesina disclosed this via a post on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) shortly after Buhari’s passing was announced.
During the visit, Adesina said he went to personally thank Buhari for his unwavering support during both his initial election and re-election as AfDB president.
Adesina said, “I visited President Buhari to express my deep appreciation for his incredible support of my nomination by President Jonathan for election as President, African Development Bank.
“He strongly stood by me in difficult times, which ensured my re-election. Thank you Sir.”
Buhari was known to have played a behind-the-scenes role in rallying African leaders in support of Adesina’s re-election despite significant political headwinds during the process.
It remains unclear when the former president travelled abroad after the April visit. However, Buhari’s absence at the ECOWAS 50th anniversary celebration held on May 28 raised concerns. His aides cited health reasons for his inability to attend the regional gathering.
Buhari, who served as both Nigeria’s military head of state and later as a democratically elected president, died in a London clinic on Sunday afternoon after a prolonged illness. He was 82 years old.