Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari dies in London
"President Buhari died today in London at about 4:30 p.m. (1530 GMT), following a prolonged illness," President Bola Tinubu's spokesperson said in a post on X.
Buhari, 82, who first led the country as a military ruler after a coup in the 1980s, earned a devoted following for his brand of anti-corruption conviction politics.
He referred to himself as a "converted democrat" and swapped his military uniform for kaftans and prayer caps.
"I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody," was a constant refrain Buhari told supporters and critics alike.
Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 in what was judged to be Nigeria's fairest election to date. Many hoped the retired major general would crack down on armed groups, just as he had when he was the country's military head of state.
Instead, violence that had mostly been confined to the northeast spread. That left swathes of Nigeria outside the control of its stretched security forces as gunmen in the northwest, armed separatists and gangs in the southeast, roamed unchecked.
Much of his appeal lay in the anti-corruption ethos that was a central plank of his agenda, both as a military and civilian ruler. He said endemic corruption in Nigeria's political culture was holding people back.
'Baba Go Slow'
But Buhari quickly disappointed after his 2015 win.
He took six months to name his cabinet. During that time, the oil-dependent economy was hobbled by low crude prices, prompting people to call him "Baba Go Slow".
His second victory in 2019 came despite his first term being blighted by Nigeria's first recession in a generation, militant attacks on oilfields, and repeated hospital stays.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura in the northwestern state of Katsina, Buhari enrolled in the army at 19. He would eventually rise to the rank of major-general.
He seized power in 1983 as a military ruler, promising to revitalise a mismanaged country. Buhari took a tough line on everything from the conditions sought by the International Monetary Fund to unruliness in bus queues.
In 1984, his administration attempted to kidnap a former minister and vocal critic living in Britain. The plot failed when London airport officials opened the crate containing the abducted politician.
His first stint in power was short-lived. He was removed after only 18 months by another military officer, Ibrahim Babangida.
Buhari spent much of the following 30 years in fringe political parties and trying to run for president until his eventual victory over Jonathan in 2015.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kemi Badenoch says she no longer considers herself Nigerian
Kemi Badenoch has said she no longer identifies as Nigerian and has not renewed her Nigerian passport since the early 2000s. Speaking to Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast, the Conservative leader, who was born in London and raised in Lagos and the United States, said: 'I'm Nigerian through ancestry, by birth, despite not being born there because of my parents, but by identity I'm not really." Ms Badenoch explained she felt "home is where my now family is'. The Tory politician was born in Wimbledon in 1980 before her parents took her home to Nigeria. She was one of the last people to receive birthright citizenship because she was born in the UK before these rules were abolished by Margaret Thatcher the following year.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Greek government cautious on new EU-US trade deal reached with Trump
The Greek government appears hesitant and cautious in commenting on the EU-US trade deal on tariffs reached between Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump. Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, speaking in the parliament, outlined the government's thoughts on this burning issue. He noted that it puts an end to months of uncertainty following Trump's election and the "back and forth" with the tariffs, and that is a positive thing. He stressed, however, that the government is studying the agreement to see how it can better manage the problems that will arise in areas of Greece's commercial interest. "The agreement puts an end to months of uncertainty regarding the status of perhaps the most important bilateral trade relationship in the global economy. It secures transatlantic unity and prevents a trade war with a chain of negative effects on international trade and on international distribution and production chains," Pierrakakis outlined. "The agreement also strengthens the energy security of the European economy for the foreseeable future. From this perspective, the development is positive." "As you know, as a matter of principle, Greece supports free trade based on stable rules. The agreement provides for the application of tariffs of 15% on European exports to the US, with some asterisks," Pierrakakis continued. "Based on the principled position I have described to you, the Greek government would like a lower tariff rate, ideally zero for all transatlantic trade flows. On the other hand, the announced tariff rate is lower than what was scheduled to be applied on 1 August." "The government is closely following the relevant consultations and, to the extent that the framework of the agreement will allow, possibilities will be explored that could help to better address issues related to products of particular interest to our country." Related US-EU trade deal wards off tariff escalation but threatens growth Von der Leyen and Trump strike EU-US trade deal with 15% tariff for the bloc 'Ending intra-European tariffs' The Greek finance minister also raised another issue, which concerns Europe itself. He said there are still intra-EU barriers that act as tariffs and should be eliminated. "If we really want a strong, competitive and single European economy, we have to tear down the last invisible walls that still prevent the free movement of goods and services within the Union," Pierrakakis said. "It is not possible that, decades after the Single Market was established, there are still regulatory or administrative barriers that in practice act as intra-European 'tariffs'." "In manufacturing there are equivalent internal tariffs of 45% and in services the equivalent is 110%. This is what the International Monetary Fund has documented, and Mario Draghi has mentioned it in his column," he explained. "So, what needs to be conquered and achieved is to remove the barriers, especially between the European economies. And of course we as a country should also be able to systematically address more and more markets, such as India and the Middle Eastern markets, for our exports." 'A defining development' The president of the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Yannis Bratakos noted that the agreement is a defining development for global trade as things are now more predictable. On the other hand, he stressed that it creates serious challenges for Greek and European production. "The recent agreement between the United States and the European Union, which includes a new tariff framework, is a decisive development for transatlantic cooperation and the global economy," Bratakos said. "The new tariff framework resulting from the agreement creates conditions of greater predictability, but at the same time incorporates challenges for specific sectors of European production." Related Oil prices rise on EU-US trade deal and Trump comments on Ukraine Bratakos continued: "The exemption of strategic sectors, such as aeronautics, generic medicines, chemicals and certain agricultural goods, is a positive development." "However, the imposition of uniform tariffs on high-value-added products - including pharmaceutical, industrial and agri-food exports - may hurt the competitiveness of companies that support critical shares of the Greek economy." "Particular attention is needed to protect iconic Greek products, such as olive oil, feta and wines, which risk being burdened by the new regime. In this environment, the need for constant monitoring of developments and effective participation in the shaping of European decisions becomes crucial," Bratakos explained. "At the same time, the strengthening of energy cooperation with the US, through increased imports of LNG and investment in infrastructure, opens up new opportunities for Greece, especially in the fields of logistics, shipbuilding and regional energy interconnection." "The Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls on the Greek government to ensure, within the framework of the European institutions, that the final implementation of the agreement will not disrupt the competitiveness of Greek exports and will not increase the dependence of specific sectors on third markets." "It is time for our country to invest concretely and more actively in interconnection with the US and at the same time to broaden its export prospects to alternative markets. The Hellenic Business Association (EBEA) will continue to support this national effort with informed interventions, services to its members and the continuous promotion of Greek entrepreneurship abroad". Related Educated but still unemployed: How does unemployment vary among university graduates across Europe? Spain's economy grows 0.7% as it continues to outshine eurozone peers Hopes of 'manageable' situation The port of Piraeus is a very large trade hub, the main seaport of Athens and plays a key role in the commercial and industrial traffic of Greece and Europe. "We want to believe that the agreement to impose tariffs at the 15% level is a manageable situation and we hope that it will not create losses in US-EU bilateral trade," President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vassilis Korkidis said. "In international trade, any agreement is always better than no agreement and the unilateral imposition of measures and countermeasures. The fact that it was agreed to impose a 15% general tariff on all products including cars is an element that restores balance to US-European trade relations and seems to satisfy both parties," Korkidis explained. "However, the tariffs on steel and aluminium remain at 50%, and it is not clear whether pharmaceuticals and semiconductors will eventually be subject to separate tariffs." "The agreement also provides that the EU will buy US military equipment and energy worth a total of $750 billion, while making significant investments of $600 billion." "The European side calls it an 'all-inclusive' trade agreement between the two major trading partners that brings stability. Regardless of the details and exceptions, it is significant that after months of negotiations, the agreement was reached less than a week before the August 1 deadline and the imposition of higher tariffs that would have had serious repercussions," he said. "We want to believe that the agreement to impose tariffs at the 15% level is a manageable situation and we hope that it will not create losses in US-EU bilateral trade," Korkidis concluded. Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
19 hours ago
- Business Insider
Anti-Nigerian tensions ease in Ghana following bilateral talks
Tensions between Nigeria and Ghana appeared to ease this week following a joint statement by both governments in response to anti-Nigerian protests that had sparked concern across the region. Tensions between Nigeria and Ghana eased following a joint statement addressing recent anti-Nigerian protests in Ghana. Protests in parts of Ghana were fueled by viral videos alleging criminal activities by Nigerian nationals, triggering calls for deportations. Concerns over adherence to Ghana's trade laws, particularly relating to activities dominated by foreign nationals, remain a source of tension. The protests, which emerged in parts of Ghana and were fueled by viral social media videos alleging criminal behavior by Nigerian nationals, led to growing calls from some Ghanaian groups for mass deportations. In a move aimed at de-escalation, Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, traveled to Accra as a special envoy dispatched by President Bola Tinubu. Speaking during a joint press briefing with Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized that the Nigerian government was taking the concerns seriously but also urged the public not to panic. ' Contrary to online reports, there was no visible unrest upon our arrival, ' she said, adding that her mission was to ensure the welfare of Nigerians in Ghana while engaging in constructive dialogue with local authorities. Ghana's Foreign Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, also used the occasion to reaffirm his government's commitment to the safety of all residents, regardless of nationality. ' The Ghanaian government will ensure that everyone in the country, citizens and non-citizens, is protected,' he stated, while cautioning all residents to steer clear of criminal activities and actions capable of inciting division. Tensions rooted in trade disputes On Saturday, a large group of Ghanaians gathered at Accra's Obra Spot to stage a protest demanding the immediate expulsion of Nigerians from the country, accusing them of being behind a rise in crime and social vices. The demonstrators carried placards bearing charged messages such as 'Nigerians Must Go,' 'End Kidnapping,' 'End Prostitution,' 'End Armed Robbery,' and ' End Ritual Murders.' Others questioned the state's protection of Ghanaian citizens, with one sign reading, ' Who protects the rights and freedom of Ghanaians?' The protest, while not unprecedented, reignited public scrutiny over the role of Nigerian nationals, particularly in sectors like petty trading, which Ghanaian law reserves for its citizens. In a separate report, Ghanaian journalist Obibini Kojo Bansah acknowledged these growing tensions, attributing part of the discontent to the perception that Nigerians are violating the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act 865 of 2013. The law bars non-citizens from engaging in small-scale trading and street hawking—activities that many local traders argue are increasingly dominated by foreigners. While enforcement in Ghana has been inconsistent, the regulation mirrors a recent directive by the Tanzanian government that has drawn criticism across the continent, with Kenya openly threatening retaliatory measures. Bansah pointed out that the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has for years, petitioned the government to enforce these regulations. The association has also threatened nationwide demonstrations if foreign encroachment into local trade persists without government intervention.
