Muhammadu Buhari, who was the nation’s democratic chief between 2015 and 2023, died aged 82 in London on Sunday.
Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari can be buried in his hometown of Daura within the northern state of Katsina, as soon as his physique is repatriated from the UK, the state governor has stated.
The stays of the ex-leader, who died aged 82 in London on Sunday following a chronic sickness, will attain Nigeria on Tuesday, together with his burial happening later the identical day, based on Dikko Umaru Radda.
Preparations for the burial have been underneath approach in Daura on Monday, whereas the nation’s Vice President Kashim Shettima was in London organising the repatriation of Buhari’s physique.
Buhari, who first dominated the nation as a army chief between 1984 and 1985, served consecutive presidential phrases between 2015 and 2023. He was the primary opposition politician to be voted into energy for the reason that nation’s return to civilian rule.
The self-described “transformed democrat” is being remembered by many as a central determine in his nation’s democratic evolution. Nevertheless, some critics have additionally famous his failure to enhance Nigeria’s economic system or its safety throughout his presidency.
Paying tribute to his predecessor on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu known as him “a patriot, a soldier, a statesman”.
“He stood agency via probably the most turbulent occasions, main with quiet power, profound integrity, and an unshakable perception in Nigeria’s potential,” Tinubu wrote in a publish on X.
“He championed self-discipline in public service, confronted corruption head-on and positioned the nation above private curiosity at each flip.”
Tinubu added that each one nationwide flags would fly at half-mast for seven days from Sunday, and stated Buhari can be accorded full-state honours.
Radda additionally paid his respects to the previous president, describing him as “the embodiment of the frequent man’s aspirations”.
Ibrahim Babangida, a former army ruler who ousted Buhari in a coup in 1985, additionally launched an announcement after his demise was introduced.
“We could not have agreed on all the pieces — as brothers usually don’t — however I by no means as soon as doubted his sincerity or his patriotism,” Babangida stated.
Talking to Al Jazeera, Alexis Akwagyiram, managing editor at Semafor and a longtime observer of Nigerian politics, famous that Buhari was well-liked for his “private model of integrity and honesty”.
Nevertheless, Akwagyiram additionally highlighted Buhari’s shortcomings on the economic system and safety, saying that insurgencies from teams equivalent to Boko Haram had “proliferated underneath his tenure”.