Thursday, July 17, 2025

Nigeria: Muhammadu Buhari laid to rest

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Elvis Adjetey
Elvis Adjetey
Elvis Adjetey is an experienced African journalist who has worked with top media brands in Ghana where he is based.

Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari, has been laid to rest in his hometown of Daura in northern Nigeria on Tuesday, following his death in London at the age of 82. He passed away at a private medical clinic after a brief illness.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led a delegation of government officials and dignitaries to receive the coffin containing the remains of the former president at the airport.

From there, the body was transported to Daura, where hundreds of mourners, including prominent political figures, traditional rulers, and community members, gathered for the funeral rites.

Islamic prayers were offered at the central mosque in Daura before Buhari was buried in a private ceremony within the grounds of his residence.

In keeping with military tradition, a ceremonial gun salute was fired before the Nigerian flag, which had draped the casket, was formally removed, folded, and handed over to the bereaved family.

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President Tinubu, alongside Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, were among those present at the final interment.

The federal government declared a public holiday on Tuesday to allow citizens to pay their respects, and Tinubu announced a week-long period of national mourning. During this time, flags across the country will fly at half-mast as a mark of respect.

Tributes have continued to pour in for Buhari, who first led Nigeria as a military ruler in the 1980s and later returned as a democratically elected president in 2015. He made history by defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and served two consecutive four-year terms.

Jonathan described Buhari as a leader who exhibited deep patriotism and moral conviction, praising his devotion to national service. Former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who toppled Buhari’s regime in a 1985 coup, also offered warm words, calling him a lifelong example of integrity and simplicity in public life.

The funeral, which had initially been scheduled for Monday, was postponed by a day due to logistical challenges, according to government officials.

As Nigeria bids farewell to one of its most consequential leaders, the ceremonies in Daura marked the closing chapter of a political life that spanned military rule and democratic governance.

Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari dies in London

Source: Africafeeds.com

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