Nigeria Mourns Former President Muhammadu Buhari, To Be Buried in Katsina

Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari passed away on Sunday at the age of 82 while receiving treatment at a London clinic, officials confirmed. His body will be flown back to Nigeria and laid to rest on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, located in the northern state of Katsina, according to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda.

A former military ruler who came to power following a coup in the 1980s, Buhari made a historic return to civilian politics decades later. In 2015, he became the first Nigerian opposition candidate to defeat a sitting president at the ballot box, securing a second term in 2019.

Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima and other senior government officials traveled to London on Monday to coordinate the repatriation of the former president’s remains.

Tributes poured in from across the globe. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Buhari’s statesmanship, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “His wisdom, warmth, and unwavering commitment to the India–Nigeria friendship stood out.”

Buhari, who referred to himself as a “converted democrat,” built a strong following with his anti-corruption platform, especially in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north. Swapping his military fatigues for traditional kaftans and prayer caps, he cultivated an image of personal integrity and simplicity in contrast to Nigeria’s often flamboyant political class.

However, his presidency was not without controversy. Critics often described him as distant and disengaged, frequently absent from public life, especially during extended medical visits to the UK. Local newspaper BusinessDay once characterized him as "an absentee landlord — a leader who governed by delegation, who disappeared for long stretches, and whose aloofness felt like abandonment."

Despite being deposed in a 1985 coup by General Ibrahim Babangida, Buhari maintained cordial relations with some former rivals. In a statement, Babangida remembered him as “a deeply spiritual and humble man,” adding: “We may not have agreed on everything — as brothers often don’t — but I never once doubted his sincerity or his patriotism.”

Following his departure from office in 2023, Buhari retreated to Daura, largely stepping back from public affairs as his successor, President Bola Tinubu, inherited a country facing a complex set of challenges — from surging inflation and foreign exchange crises to dwindling oil output and a worsening security landscape.

Even in retirement, Buhari’s legacy remained polarizing. While some Nigerians saw him as a symbol of restraint and anti-corruption values, others viewed his tenure as marked by economic hardship, policy inertia, and growing insecurity.

His burial in Daura on Tuesday will be attended by dignitaries, family members, and supporters paying their final respects to a figure whose presence loomed large over Nigeria's modern political history.