Nigeria’s former president and statesman, Muhammadu Buhari, has died at the age of 82. The news was confirmed by his longtime spokesperson, Garba Shehu, via his official X handle (@GarShehu), stating:
“The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus. Amin.”
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Buhari had been receiving medical care at a private London clinic for an undisclosed illness. His death draws the curtain on a controversial yet consequential legacy that shaped modern Nigerian politics for over four decades, both in military uniform and civilian garb.
A Life at the Center of Power
From military coup leader in 1983 to democratically elected president in 2015, Muhammadu Buhari’s journey embodied the paradox of Nigeria’s postcolonial evolution. After his brief military rule (1983–1985), he returned to office three decades later as the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent president, ushering in what many hailed as a democratic milestone.
Buhari’s tenure from 2015 to 2023 was defined by a sweeping anti-corruption crusade, persistent warfare against Boko Haram insurgents, and divisive economic policies. While his supporters lauded his austere leadership style and perceived integrity, critics accused him of overseeing economic stagnation, youth unemployment, rising insecurity, and a deeply polarised national discourse.
His handling of the #EndSARS protests in 2020, Twitter ban in 2021, and economic downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic remain pivotal moments of national debate.
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National Response & Burial Plans
Nigeria’s current president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to travel to London and oversee the return of Buhari’s remains. According to official statements, the late president will be buried today, Monday, July 14, in Daura, Katsina State, in accordance with Islamic rites.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has also paid tribute, calling Buhari “a calm and resolute patriot, whose life was defined by service, sacrifice, and unshakable conviction.”
Legacy in Perspective
Born: December 17, 1942 – Daura, Katsina State
Died: July 13, 2025 – London, United Kingdom
Military Rule: 1983–1985
Democratic Presidency: 2015–2023
Known for: Anti-corruption drive, military discipline, nationalism, polarising policies
From barracks to ballot box, Muhammadu Buhari leaves behind a nation still grappling with the weight of his choices, decades of discipline, populist hope, and contradictions that define the Nigerian journey.
