The nephew of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, Mamman Daura, has revealed that the Nigerian leader was in high spirits just hours before his death on Sunday in London.
Speaking in an interview with ThisDay, Daura recounted his last moments with Buhari at the London Clinic, where the 82-year-old had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.
Naijaonpoint reports that Daura said he spent Saturday evening with the late President, who appeared full of life and hopeful about returning to Nigeria within the week.
“We were together on Saturday, talking and laughing, and Buhari was in high spirits in the London Clinic where he was admitted,” Daura recalled.
He disclosed that Buhari had made plans for his return, including giving instructions regarding hotel bills for members of his entourage in London.
“He even had the plan to depart for Nigeria upon his discharge this week and made sure that arrangements were made to sort out the hotel bills of everybody who was in London on his behalf before departing,” he added.
Daura said he left the clinic at about 9 p.m. on Saturday, planning to return the next day, but received distressing news just hours later.
He said, “I left him around 9pm on Saturday in high spirits and promised to see him on Sunday afternoon. He was looking forward to his doctor’s visit on Sunday morning.
“But around midday, he started having breathing challenges, and doctors rushed to his side to try and manage it. But unfortunately, around 4.30pm, he gave up the ghost.”