London (TDI): Muhammadu Buhari, former Nigerian President and military general, died at the age of 82 in the United Kingdom, on Sunday. According to a statement by the presidential press office of Nigeria, Buhari died due to “prolonged illness.”
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the current President of the country, spoke with Aisha Buhari, widow of the former president, and offered his condolences. President Tinubu also directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to bring Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.
Tinubu called Buhari a “patriot, soldier and statesman” and remembered that he served Nigeria with “unwavering dedication.”
President Tinubu Announces President Buhari’s Passing, Directs VP Shettima To The UK To Accompany Body Back Home pic.twitter.com/mHcVEkfnmz
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) July 13, 2025
“He stood firm through the most turbulent times, leading with quiet strength, profound integrity, and an unshakable belief in Nigeria’s potential. He championed discipline in public service, confronted corruption head-on, and placed the country above personal interest at every turn,” Tinubu wrote on X.
As a mark of respect for the former president, Tinubu said that all national flags will fly at half-staff across the country for seven days; declaring a period of national mourning and respect for the deceased.
Buhari was born in Daura, Katsina State, in Nigeria’s northern province, in December 1942. He completed his military training in Kaduna State, Great Britain, India, and the United States.
Statement by President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, on the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR pic.twitter.com/9vdYMhT6Oo
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) July 13, 2025
He was a former general who first came to power in a 1983 military coup, only to be overthrown by another military coup two years later. Buhari will forever be remembered for his strong anti-corruption agenda in a country labeled as “fantastically corrupt” by former British Prime Minister David Cameron.
He was elected twice as Nigeria’s president in 2015 and 2019. Between January 1984 and August 1985, he served as the military head of state as well.
His first term was characterized by war on many fronts, including the Boko Haram insurgency, the secessionist pro-Biafra movement in the east of Nigeria and rampaging Fulani herdsmen across Nigeria.
In his final UN speech in 2022, Buhari criticized the “corrosive effect” of fellow leaders who extend term limits to cling to power. The next year, he praised his successor and fellow party member Tinubu as “the best person for the job.”
An IR student whose interest lies in diplomacy and current affairs and a part time debater
