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Ex-Nigeria President Buhari's remains land back in the country
Ex-Nigeria President Buhari's remains land back in the country

Yahoo

time15-07-2025

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

Ex-Nigeria President Buhari's remains land back in the country

The remains of Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari have been brought back to the country two days after his death at the age of 82 at a clinic in London. His successor, Bola Tinubu, was at the airport in the northern state of Katsina to receive the body. It will then be transported to Buhari's home some 80km (50 miles) away in Daura where it will be buried in his family's compound. Among the other dignitaries at the airport in Katsina were Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, Niger's former President Mahamadou Issoufou and Buhari's Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. Buhari's house is already filled with mourners as friends, family and well-wishers await the arrival of his corpse. Nigeria's government had declared Tuesday a public holiday to honour Buhari - who was also a former army general, one of only two Nigerians to have led the country as both a military leader and a democratically elected president. Buhari - the austere Nigerian military ruler who defeated a sitting president Officials say the funeral, initially expected on Monday, was delayed for logistical reasons. Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who accompanied the late leader's corpse back to Nigeria, stated that Buhari had died after a brief illness without revealing any further details. Tributes poured in for the late leader who served for two four-year terms after initially being elected president in 2015, becoming the first opposition leader to defeat an incumbent. The man he beat, President Goodluck Jonathan, described Buhari as someone who "was selfless in his commitment to his duty and served the country with character and a deep sense of patriotism". Former military ruler, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, who overthrew Buhari in a 1985 coup, also showered praise on the octogenarian. "He is a man who, even in retirement, remained a moral compass to many, and an example of modesty in public life,' Babangida noted. Tinubu, who will attend the funeral prayer in Daura, declared a seven-day national mourning period in honour of his predecessor. In an official condolence statement released on Sunday evening, Tinubu said the nation would pay its final respects to the former leader with dignity and honour, starting with the lowering of all national flags to half-mast across the country from Sunday. Nigerian woman smuggled baby into UK using fake birth story Big shake-up in Nigerian politics as heavyweights join forces Rare photos capture Afrobeats' rise to take over the world Nigeria's major tax overhaul explained Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa

Heatwaves and hand-to-hand combat: Africa's top shots
Heatwaves and hand-to-hand combat: Africa's top shots

Yahoo

time04-07-2025

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

Heatwaves and hand-to-hand combat: Africa's top shots

A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond: Big shake-up in Nigerian politics as heavyweights join forces Queen of Katwe's gambit still in play for Uganda's slum chess players DR Congo-Rwanda peace deal met with scepticism in rebel-held city Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa

One of Nigeria's richest men set to be buried in Saudi Arabia
One of Nigeria's richest men set to be buried in Saudi Arabia

Yahoo

time30-06-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

One of Nigeria's richest men set to be buried in Saudi Arabia

One of Nigeria's wealthiest businessmen, Aminu Dantata, is set to be buried in Saudi Arabia later after he died on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates. Business mogul Dantata, 94, an uncle of Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote, leaves three wives, 21 children and 121 grandchildren. His body was transferred from Abu Dhabi where he died to Medina after Saudi authorities approved his burial in their country. It was his wish to be buried in a city he adored and where Islam's prophet Muhammad lived and died. Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu described Dantata's death as a "monumental national loss' in a statement. He said Dantata had made "sterling contributions to Nigeria's growth and development" through decades of enterprise, service, and philanthropy. He was known across Nigeria for his philanthropic activities. Last year, he donated 1.5 billion naira ($972,000; £710,000) to victims of the devastating floods in north-eastern Borno state. His business interests cut across agriculture, real estate, construction and manufacturing. He first made his name in agriculture, starting trading kola nuts and groundnuts in the 1940s. He came from a business family - his father Alhassan Dantata was once considered to be the richest man in West Africa. Despite his riches, Dantata lived in one of the poorest areas of the northern city of Kano, like his parents before him. His influence was also felt in politics, with politicians eager to seek his blessings before elections. A video of President Tinubu bowing to greet him before the 2023 elections went viral on social media. A special prayer was held for him in Kano, where he lived all his life. Two Nigerian governors and the defence minister have gone to Medina for his funeral. Nigeria's major tax overhaul explained What is behind the wave of killings in central Nigeria? Culture and colour come out in praise of a Nigerian king Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa

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