VICE President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, have arrived in London to receive the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away yesterday following a prolonged illness.
The duo led the official Nigerian delegation on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, who instructed them to oversee arrangements for the late leader’s repatriation and burial in Nigeria.
Upon arrival in the UK today, the delegation was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, among other officials.
Buhari, aged 82, died at approximately 4:30 pm in London. Though the specific nature of his illness was not disclosed, he had faced ongoing health challenges since 2017, when he first sought extended medical care in the UK.
Last week, his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, had stated that Buhari was recovering steadily, downplaying the severity of his condition.
Shehu noted that the former president had been in relatively good health, maintaining a nutritious diet and regular exercise regimen.
President Tinubu has since ordered national flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Buhari and extended condolences to the late president’s family.
Tributes have poured in nationwide, with many describing Buhari as a leader of integrity. Known affectionately as “Baba Buhari” in northern Nigeria, he commanded loyal following throughout his political career.
Born in 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari first served as Nigeria’s military head of state between 1983 and 1985, before returning to power as a democratically elected president in 2015.
He became the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent president in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, winning re-election in 2019.
Throughout his tenure, Buhari was known for his anti-corruption stance, though his administration was marred by allegations of graft involving several appointees. Critics argued he failed to hold them accountable, a claim his allies, including Shehu, strongly refuted.
Some notable milestones in Buhari’s public service career include: Military governor of Borno State (1976), Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources (1976), First Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (1977), Chairman, Petroleum Trust Fund (1994), Head of State (1983–1985) and Elected President of Nigeria (2015, re-elected 2019).
Buhari contested the presidency five times under various political platforms—ANPP, CPC, and APC—succeeding in 2015 after three failed attempts.
His merger with Bola Tinubu’s political coalition in 2013 formed the All Progressives Congress (APC), which ended the 16-year reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He was married to Safinatu Yusuf (1971–1988) and later to Aisha Halilu (since 1989), and was a father to ten children.
Buhari’s legacy remains a subject of debate, but many remember him as a disciplined, principled leader who left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s political landscape.