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Reuters
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Nigeria's former leader Buhari to be buried on Tuesday, official says
LAGOS, July 14 (Reuters) - Nigeria's late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died in a London clinic on Sunday aged 82, will be buried in his northern home state of Katsina on Tuesday, the state governor said. Buhari, a former military ruler after a coup in the 1980s, returned to frontline politics to become the first Nigerian president to oust an incumbent through the ballot box in 2015. He was re-elected for a second term four years later. Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima and government officials were in London on Monday to organise the repatriation of the former president's remains. Katsina state governor Dikko Umaru Radda said after consultation with Buhari's family it was agreed the body would arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday for burial the same day in his home town of Daura. Among those who paid tribute to Buhari was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who posted on X platform that "his wisdom, warmth and unwavering commitment to India–Nigeria friendship stood out." Buhari earned a devoted following for his brand of anti-corruption conviction politics, especially in Nigeria's largely Muslim north. He referred to himself as a "converted democrat" and swapped his military uniform for kaftans and prayer caps. Ibrahim Babangida, another former military ruler who toppled Buhari in a coup in 1985, said he knew Buhari as a deeply spiritual and humble man. "We may not have agreed on everything — as brothers often don't — but I never once doubted his sincerity or his patriotism," Babangida said in a statement. After leaving office in 2023, Buhari spent most of his time in Daura, away from the public eye. His successor Bola Tinubu inherited a country grappling with double digit inflation, foreign exchange shortages, economic hardship, low oil production and insecurity that had spread to most parts of Nigeria. Buhari's supporters, however, viewed him as Nigeria's conscience because he had a reputation for shunning the corruption and ostentatious lifestyles often associated with the country's political elites. To his critics, Buhari was "an absentee landlord — a leader who governed by delegation, who disappeared for long stretches (often to London for medical treatment), and whose aloofness felt like abandonment," the local BusinessDay newspaper said.


Al Jazeera
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Former Nigerian President Buhari to be buried in hometown on Tuesday
Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari will be buried in his hometown of Daura in the northern state of Katsina, once his body is repatriated from the United Kingdom, the state governor has said. The remains of the ex-leader, who died aged 82 in London on Sunday following a prolonged illness, will reach Nigeria on Tuesday, with his burial taking place later the same day, according to Dikko Umaru Radda. Preparations for the burial were under way in Daura on Monday, while the country's Vice President Kashim Shettima was in London organising the repatriation of Buhari's body. Buhari, who first ruled the country as a military leader between 1984 and 1985, served consecutive presidential terms between 2015 and 2023. He was the first opposition politician to be voted into power since the country's return to civilian rule. The self-described 'converted democrat' is being remembered by many as a central figure in his country's democratic evolution. However, some critics have also noted his failure to improve Nigeria's economy or its security during his presidency. Paying tribute to his predecessor on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu called him 'a patriot, a soldier, a statesman'. 'He stood firm through the most turbulent times, leading with quiet strength, profound integrity, and an unshakable belief in Nigeria's potential,' Tinubu wrote in a post on X. 'He championed discipline in public service, confronted corruption head-on and placed the country above personal interest at every turn.' Tinubu added that all national flags would fly at half-mast for seven days from Sunday, and said Buhari would be accorded full-state honours. Radda also paid his respects to the former president, describing him as 'the embodiment of the common man's aspirations'. Ibrahim Babangida, a former military ruler who ousted Buhari in a coup in 1985, also released a statement after his death was announced. 'We may not have agreed on everything — as brothers often don't — but I never once doubted his sincerity or his patriotism,' Babangida said. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Alexis Akwagyiram, managing editor at Semafor and a longtime observer of Nigerian politics, noted that Buhari was popular for his 'personal brand of integrity and honesty'. However, Akwagyiram also highlighted Buhari's shortcomings on the economy and security, saying that insurgencies from groups such as Boko Haram had 'proliferated under his tenure'.


Arab News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Nigeria's former leader Buhari to be buried on Tuesday, official says
LAGOS: Nigeria's late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died in a London clinic on Sunday aged 82, will be buried in his northern home state of Katsina on Tuesday, the state governor said. Buhari, a former military ruler after a coup in the 1980s, returned to frontline politics to become the first Nigerian president to oust an incumbent through the ballot box in 2015. He was re-elected for a second term four years later. Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima and government officials were in London on Monday to organize the repatriation of the former president's remains. Katsina state governor Dikko Umaru Radda said after consultation with Buhari's family it was agreed the body would arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday for burial the same day in his home town of Daura. Among those who paid tribute to Buhari was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who posted on X platform that 'his wisdom, warmth and unwavering commitment to India–Nigeria friendship stood out.' Buhari earned a devoted following for his brand of anti-corruption conviction politics, especially in Nigeria's largely Muslim north. He referred to himself as a 'converted democrat' and swapped his military uniform for kaftans and prayer caps. Ibrahim Babangida, another former military ruler who toppled Buhari in a coup in 1985, said he knew Buhari as a deeply spiritual and humble man. 'We may not have agreed on everything — as brothers often don't — but I never once doubted his sincerity or his patriotism,' Babangida said in a statement. After leaving office in 2023, Buhari spent most of his time in Daura, away from the public eye. His successor Bola Tinubu inherited a country grappling with double digit inflation, foreign exchange shortages, economic hardship, low oil production and insecurity that had spread to most parts of Nigeria. Buhari's supporters, however, viewed him as Nigeria's conscience because he had a reputation for shunning the corruption and ostentatious lifestyles often associated with the country's political elites. To his critics, Buhari was 'an absentee landlord — a leader who governed by delegation, who disappeared for long stretches (often to London for medical treatment), and whose aloofness felt like abandonment,' the local BusinessDay newspaper said.


BBC News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Body of late President Buhari dey on di way from London for a simple burial for Daura
Di body of late President Muhammadu Buhari dey on di way now as dem dey fly am in from London to Daura im hometown for Katsina state wia dem go give am simple burial. Buhari die for one London hospital on Sunday at di age of 82. Guvnor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, who already dey for London wit Buhari family tell tori pipo say dem go bury am later dis Monday for Daura town, about 80 kilometres from di state capital. Nigeria Vice-President Kashim Shettima and di Chief of Staff of President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, also fly into di UK capital early Monday to accompany Buhari body home. "I just leave im family for di hospital wia e die and di decision be say we go take im body to Daura for burial," Radda tell tori pipo. Also in a social media post, Vice President Shettima confirm say na for Daura dem go bury Buhari. E tok say Buhari bin die afta small sickness but e no tok di exact sickness wey e suffer from. However, Buhari bin don dey sick for many years now. In line wit Islamic religion, dem go bury Buhari as quickly as possible for simple ceremony, according to weitn one Islamic cleric Abdullahi Garangamawa tell di BBC. "Di only tin wey fit stop di burial of Buhari bodi today [Monday] na if im body arrive Daura for night bicos Islam no dey allow night burials. In dat case, Tuesday morning go dey ok," di cleric tok. Tributes still dey pour in for di late army general who be one of only two pipo wey don led Nigeria two times, both as military and civilian president. Di oda pesin na former President Olusegun Obasanjo wey dey 88 years old now. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who Buhari bin win for di 2015 election, don describe di late leader as someone wey "dey selfless for im commitment to im duty and bin serve di kontri wit character and deep sense of patriotism". Also, former military head of state Ibrahim Babangida, who Buhari bin overthrow in a coup in1985, shower praises on di late president.. "He na man wey, even for retirement, e remain moral compass to many, and na example of modesty for public life,' Babangida tok. President Bola Tinubu dey expected to attend di funeral prayer for Daura, and e don declare seven-day national mourning period in honour of im predecessor. Tinubu say di nation would pay dia final respect to di former leader wit dignity and honour, starting with bringing down all national flags to half-mast across di kontri from Sunday. BBC Pidgin go dey bring you all di update about Buhari burial later dis Monday.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Body of former Nigerian leader Buhari to be flown home for simple burial
The body of Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died aged 82 in a London clinic on Sunday is being flown home to be buried in his hometown in Katsina state. Katsina state governor Dikko Radda, who is in the British capital with Buhari's family, said he would be buried later on Monday in Daura town, 50 miles (80km) from Katsina town. Nigeria's Vice-President Kashim Shettima is also in London and will accompany Buhari's remains back to Nigeria. "I just left his family at the hospital where he died and the decision is that his remains will be taken to Daura for burial, the plan is to leave in the morning," Radda told DW Hausa. The vice-president also confirmed Daura to be Buhari's final resting place in a post on social media after arriving in London. He said that Buhari had died after a brief illness without revealing any further details. In line with Islamic teachings Buhari is expected to be buried as quickly as possible in a simple ceremony, Islamic cleric Abdullahi Garangamawa told the BBC. "The only thing that should stop Buhari's corpse from being buried today [Monday] is if his body arrives [in] Daura in the night because Islam frowns at night burials. In that case, Tuesday morning will be fine," the cleric added. Tributes have continued to pour in for the late army general who was one of only two people to have led Nigeria twice (both as military and civilian president) in its post-independence history. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, defeated by Buhari in the 2015 election, described the late leader 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, General Ibrahim Babangida, overthrown by Buhari in a 1985 coup, also showered praises 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. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to attend the funeral prayer in Daura town, has 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. Former Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari dies aged 82 Big shake-up in Nigerian politics as heavyweights join forces 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