After several rumours falsely announcing his demise, former President Muhammadu Buhari has finally succumbed to the cold hands of death in a London hospital after a protracted illness.

Just last week, the former president was rumoured to have died, just like it was between 2016 and 2019, at the height of his health challenge which saw him flying out at different times, to the United Kingdom for medical attention.

However, Buhari, according to his spokesman, Garba Shehu, finally died Sunday at 4.30 pm.

Buhari was twice elected Nigeria’s President in 2015 and 2023, and also served as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985.

Announcing his demise in a terse statement in Abuja, Shehu said: “The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.”

Also announcing the passing of his predecessor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed Vice President Kashim Shettima and his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to proceed to the United Kingdom to accompany the late Nigerian leader’s body back home.

The president who spoke with the former president’s widow, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, offered his deep condolences.

Tinubu also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for the departed former Nigerian leader.

Tinubu said Buhari would be accorded full state honours during the emergency Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting holding Tuesday.

He said: “I have also summoned an emergency Federal Executive Council session on Tuesday, dedicated to his honour.

“The Federal Government will accord President Buhari full state honours befitting his towering contributions to our country.”

Also in a reaction, former President Olusegun Obasanjo described Buhari’s passage as a loss to Nigeria.

In a statement issued Sunday in Abeokuta, Ogun state, by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former president said the deceased was a colleague, comrade and a co-patriot, who as a soldier, played his role very well.

Obasanjo said he received the news of the passing of the immediate past Nigerian leader “with a heavy heart”.

The statement said: “It is with a heavy heart that I received this afternoon, the passing unto glory of a colleague, a comrade, co-patriot, General Muhammadu Buhari, who, as a soldier he played his role as soldier; as an administrator, he played his role as an administrator; as a statesman, he played his role as a statesman.

“It is a loss to the nation because at a time like this, we need the totality of the experience, expertise and what I may call statesmanship of all those who have had the opportunities to run the affairs of this country in the past to get us out of the situation we are in.

“All I can say is that may God forgive him all his inadequacies and accept him into His kingdom. He will be sorely missed and may his soul rest in perfect peace.”

In a similar condolence message, former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, mourned Buhari’s passage, describing him as friend and brother.

In a personally-signed statement, on Sunday, Babangda said: “It is with a deeply heavy heart that I received the news of the passing of my friend, my brother, my course mate, and a fellow soldier in the journey of nationhood — President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

“Our paths crossed in 1962 when we both joined the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna. From those early days, Muhammadu stood out — quiet yet resolute, principled yet humble, deeply patriotic and fiercely loyal to Nigeria. Through the years, we shared trenches and trials, dreams and disappointments, victories and moments of reflection. Our bond was forged not only by military training, but by a shared commitment to the ideals of service, discipline, and love for country.

“In the course of our long careers, fate placed both of us in leadership at different times, and in very different circumstances. But in all, Buhari remained consistent in his belief in integrity, order, and the dignity of public office. He served Nigeria with a deep sense of responsibility and unwavering commitment, even when the road was lonely or misunderstood.

“Beyond the uniform and the public glare, I knew him as a deeply spiritual man, a man who found solace in faith, and who carried himself with the humility of someone who believed in a higher calling. We may not have agreed on everything — as brothers often don’t — but I never once doubted his sincerity or his patriotism.”

“His passing today is not just the loss of a former Head of State, or a two-term civilian President. It is the loss of a symbol — a man whose life embodied the transition of Nigeria from the old guard to the new republic. A man who, even in retirement, remained a moral compass to many, and an example of modesty in public life.

“To his beloved wife Aisha, his children, grandchildren, and the nation he loved and served — I extend my deepest condolences. May Allah (SWT), in His infinite mercy, forgive his shortcomings, accept his deeds, and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus,” he added.

…Akpabio too

Similarly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, expressed profound sadness over his death.

Describing him as a statesman and leader of great integrity, Akpabio condoled with the government and people of Katsina state and Buhari’s immediate family over the demise of the former president.

“It is with profound sadness that I received the news of the passing of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am deeply pained that he died when his wise counsel is needed most in this country.

“On behalf of my family and constituents, the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the entire National Assembly, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of the late President, especially his wife, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, and the children, friends and political associates, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Governor Dikko Umar Radda, the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk, the people of Katsina state and Nigeria generally, over the passing of this great man,” he said.

While describing him as a fine military officer that served Nigeria with zeal and patriotism and upon retirement transited to a democratic icon, Akpabio said: “Through hard work, patience, uncommon resilience and discipline, Gen. Buhari became the first opposition candidate to defeat a sitting president in the history of Nigeria.”

His leadership and legacy will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to our nation’s development and stability. His life signified honesty, truth and justice; he was indeed, the real ‘Mai Gaskiya.’

“Buhari commanded an unprecedented cult followership in the political history of Nigeria due to his characteristic stance against corruption, unrelenting pursuit of genuine democratic ideals and his staunch support for the unity and stability of the nation.

“Having worked closely with former President Buhari as a minister under his administration, I can attest to the fact that he lived a Spartan life, thinking about the welfare of the people, especially the less privileged and was a leader worth emulating because he meant well for Nigeria and did his best to advance the cause of the people.

“May God comfort the family and his loved ones during this difficult time and may we continue to draw inspiration from his service to our great nation,” he added in a statement personally signed by him.

…Enigmatic leader gone – APC

To the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party which gave its platform to Buhari to have a two-term presidency, “Nigeria has lost an enigmatic leader, iconic elder-statesman, and exemplary patriot whose life of devoted resolve, resilience, discipline and integrity will remain evergreen in the hearts and minds of this and future generations of Nigerians.”

A statement by the party’s spokesman, Felix Morka, said the late president left solid and awe-inspiring legacy.

“Until his passing, Buhari led a simple but exceptional life of service to our dear nation.

“From his tenure as Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) to his service as a military Head of State, and a two-term President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has left behind a solid and awe-inspiring legacy of leadership and service.

“Against the backdrop of his record of military service, the departed former President was an unlikely democrat but is one of the most influential contributors to the strengthening and consolidation of our democracy.

“Aside his stint with the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), he led the emergence of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which later merged with other political parties to birth the APC in 2013.

“The late President Buhari made history when he became the first presidential contender to defeat an incumbent President in 2015 on the platform of APC.

“On behalf of the Acting National Chairman, Hon. Bukar Dalori, the National Working Committee (NWC), members and all stakeholders of our great Party, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the former President’s immediate family, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the entire federal government of Nigeria, the government and people of Katsina State, and all Nigerians over this massive and irreparable loss,” Mouka said. (Blueprint)