Ex‑President Muhammadu Buhari dies in a London clinic aged eighty‑two; his tenure shaped Nigeria’s politics from military rule to historic democratic transfer.
Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari, who steered Africa’s most‑populous nation through both military rule and two civilian terms, died in a London hospital on Sunday after a prolonged illness, according to family and presidential spokespeople.The Washington PostReuters Buhari first seized power as a general in the mid‑eighties and returned three decades later as the opposition candidate whose 2015 victory marked Nigeria’s first handover from an incumbent to a challenger. That win ended years of failed bids and ignited expectations of a decisive anti‑corruption drive.
His administration tackled oil‑sector reforms, expanded infrastructure through the Petroleum Trust Fund model he once chaired, and confronted Boko Haram, yet critics decried economic missteps, human‑rights concerns, and extended medical absences abroad. Still, he secured reelection in the late‑teens, buoyed by a solid northern base and a reputation for personal frugality. Buhari left office two years ago, handing the reins to Bola Tinubu after Nigeria’s seventh consecutive civilian transition.
News of his death prompted condolences from across the political spectrum and renewed debate over his complex legacy: a soldier‑turned‑“converted democrat” whose leadership inspired both devotion and dissent. Burial plans follow Islamic rites in his native Katsina State, while the federal government prepares national honours befitting a holder of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic. For many Nigerians, Buhari’s story frames the arc of modern governance—military intervention, democratic resilience, and the ongoing quest for accountable leadership.
