….Directs VP Shettima to London to accompany body home
I have lost not only a predecessor but a brother and a mentor. President Muhammadu Buhari was a soldier’s soldier and a leader’s leader,” Tinubu said.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced with deep sorrow the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as “a patriot of unshakable conviction who dedicated his life to the service of Nigeria.”
Former President Buhari died in London on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at about 4:30 p.m. following a prolonged illness.
In an official statement issued by Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu confirmed he had spoken with the former First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, to convey his condolences and solidarity with the bereaved family.
“I have lost not only a predecessor but a brother and a mentor. President Muhammadu Buhari was a soldier’s soldier and a leader’s leader,” Tinubu said. “His love for Nigeria never waned. Even in his final days, his thoughts remained with the nation he served so diligently.”
As a mark of honour, President Tinubu has ordered that all national flags be flown at half-staff for seven days across Nigeria and in all Nigerian missions abroad.
The President also directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed immediately to the United Kingdom to accompany the body of the late president back home for a state burial.
The government is expected to announce a schedule of national mourning and official funeral rites in the coming days.
President Muhammadu Buhari, 82, led Nigeria both as a military ruler and a democratically elected president. He first came to national prominence as a military Head of State between January 1984 and August 1985 and later made history by winning the presidential election in 2015—the first opposition candidate to unseat a sitting president. He was re-elected in 2019 and completed his second term in May 2023.
Tinubu hailed Buhari’s integrity, discipline, and commitment to national development, noting: “History will remember him as a leader who gave his all, who bore the weight of leadership in difficult times, and who remained faithful to the Nigerian project till the very end.”
Buhari’s passing marks the end of an era for a man widely regarded as a symbol of anti-corruption and military discipline, even amid intense national debates about his record on the economy, security, and civil liberties.
Further details about funeral arrangements, national tributes, and official ceremonies will be released in the days ahead.