Nigeria's former president Buhari dead at 82
Buhari governed Nigeria with a strong hand as a military ruler in the 1980s before reinventing himself as a "converted democrat", serving two terms from 2015 to 2023.
"The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, this afternoon in a clinic in London," Garba Shehu, who served as Buhari's spokesman during his presidency, said in a post on social media.
Current President Bola Tinubu said in a statement that he had spoken with Buhari's widow and ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to go to England to accompany Buhari's body back to Nigeria.
The rake-thin 82-year-old Muslim from Nigeria's far north made history as the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent leader at the ballot box in 2015.
His election victory in a country where re-election for the incumbent had been taken for granted was seen as a rare opportunity for Nigeria to change course.
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Nigeria's former president Buhari dies in London at 82
His family confirmed the death on Sunday through a statement issued by his spokesperson Garba Shehu, who said Buhari passed away at a clinic in London. 14 Jul 2025 09:21am Muhammadu Buhari looks on at the presidential fleet review held at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos on May 22, 2023. - AFP file photo LAGOS - Nigeria's former president Muhammadu Buhari has died at the age of 82 in London, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. His family confirmed the death on Sunday through a statement issued by his spokesperson Garba Shehu, who said Buhari passed away at a clinic in London. Britain's King Charles III (L) receives President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari during an audience at Buckingham Palace, in London on November 9, 2022. Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari -- who led his country first as a military strongman and later as an elected democrat -- died Sunday at the age of 82, an aide said. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau / WPA Rota / AFP) Born on Dec 17, 1942, Buhari was among the key figures in the December 1983 military coup that overthrew Nigeria's Second Republic. At the time, he was serving as General Officer Commanding the Third Armoured Division in Jos. Following the coup, Buhari assumed power and appointed Tunde Idiagbon as Chief of General Staff, effectively the second-in-command. The coup marked the end of Nigeria's Second Republic, which had restored multi-party democracy in 1979 after 13 years of military rule. Buhari contested the presidency several times as a civilian, under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2003 and 2007, and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011. In 2014, he became the presidential candidate of the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) and won the 2015 general election, defeating then-incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. It was the first time an incumbent president in Nigeria had lost a re-election bid. Buhari was sworn in on May 29, 2015, and secured a second term in 2019 after defeating former vice-president Atiku Abubakar by over three million votes. He handed over power to current president Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU More Like This
The Sun
4 hours ago
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Former Nigeria president Muhammadu Buhari dies at 82 in London
ABUJA: Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari, who governed the country both as a military ruler and an elected leader, has died at the age of 82. His death was confirmed by his former aide, Garba Shehu, who announced the news on social media. Buhari first came to power in the 1980s as a military leader before transitioning into a democratic president, serving two terms from 2015 to 2023. His election in 2015 marked a historic moment as he became the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent in Nigeria. 'The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, this afternoon in a clinic in London,' Shehu stated. Current President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences and directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to travel to England to oversee the repatriation of Buhari's remains. Despite high hopes for reform, Buhari's presidency struggled to address Nigeria's persistent corruption and security challenges. The country's economy also faced difficulties during his tenure, despite its vast oil resources. - AFP
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
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Nigeria's former president Buhari dead at 82
ABUJA: Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari -- who led his country first as a junta strongman and later as an elected democrat -- died Sunday at the age of 82, an aide said. Buhari governed Nigeria with a strong hand as a military ruler in the 1980s before reinventing himself as a "converted democrat", serving two terms from 2015 to 2023. "The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, this afternoon in a clinic in London," Garba Shehu, who served as Buhari's spokesman during his presidency, said in a post on social media. Current President Bola Tinubu said in a statement that he had spoken with Buhari's widow and ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to go to England to accompany Buhari's body back to Nigeria. The rake-thin 82-year-old Muslim from Nigeria's far north made history as the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent leader at the ballot box in 2015. His election victory in a country where re-election for the incumbent had been taken for granted was seen as a rare opportunity for Nigeria to change course.
