Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria's former president who became the first opposition candidate to defeat a sitting president in the country's history, died Sunday in London at age 82.
The announcement came from President Bola Tinubu's office, which confirmed Buhari passed away around 4:30 p.m. after battling a prolonged illness. Tinubu has sent Vice President Kashim Shettima to London to bring Buhari's body back to Nigeria for burial.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quick to express India's condolences, writing on X: "Deeply saddened by the passing of former President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari. I fondly recall our meetings and conversations on various occasions. His wisdom, warmth and unwavering commitment to India–Nigeria friendship stood out."
The political career of Buhari was not short of extraordinary. Hailing from the family in Daura, Katsina State, he enrolled in military recruitment as a 19-year-old, and his early efforts saw him advance to the rank of a major-general. In 1983, he seized power through a military coup, promising to tackle Nigeria's rampant corruption. His first stint as leader lasted just 20 months before fellow officer Ibrahim Babangida overthrew him in 1985.
Most politicians would have called it quits. Not Buhari. He spent the next 30 years trying to win the presidency through democratic means, losing election after election. Friends and critics alike wondered why he kept trying. The answer came in 2015 when he finally broke through, defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in what observers called Nigeria's fairest election to date.
His victory wasn't just a personal triumph; it was a historic moment for Nigerian democracy. For the first time, an opposition candidate had peacefully removed a sitting president through the ballot box. The country celebrated, and expectations ran high.
Buhari campaigned on a simple but powerful message: he would fight corruption and restore security. His supporters called him "Mr. Integrity," and his famous line "I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody" resonated across the country. After decades of leaders who seemed to serve only themselves, here was someone different.
His presidency from 2015 to 2023 proved challenging. Critics nicknamed him "Baba Go Slow" after he took six months to name his cabinet while Nigeria's economy struggled with falling oil prices. The security situation he promised to fix got worse, with violence spreading beyond the northeastern Boko Haram insurgency to other parts of the country.
The 2020 shooting of peaceful protesters against police brutality became a dark mark on his record. Rights groups accused him of authoritarian tendencies, saying he never fully shed his military mindset. His economic policies, particularly keeping the currency artificially high, frustrated international advisers but reflected his belief in national pride.
Still, Buhari maintained strong support in northern Nigeria, where his Muslim base saw him as someone who understood their struggles. His anti-corruption drive, while criticised for lacking high-profile convictions, remained central to his identity.
Current President Tinubu captured the complexity of Buhari's legacy, calling him "a patriot, a soldier, a statesman… to the very core." Political scientist Afolabi Adekaiyaoja noted that the divided public reaction to Buhari's death reflected his inability to unite Nigeria during his decades in public service.
Buhari will be buried according to Muslim rites in his home state of Katsina. His death closes a remarkable chapter in Nigerian politics - the story of a man who transformed from military ruler to democratic leader, embodying both the hopes and frustrations of Africa's most populous nation.
As Nigeria mourns, the world remembers a leader whose persistence and contradictions defined an era in African politics
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