After an extended illness, former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari passed away in London at the age of 82.
“After a protracted illness, President Buhari passed away in London on Sunday, July 13 at approximately 4:30 p.m. (15:30 GMT),” President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson said on Sunday on the social media site X.In what was widely hailed as the most credible election in Nigeria’s history, Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, becoming the first opposition candidate in the country’s modern history to beat a sitting president.
Buhari, a retired major general, assumed power in a military coup and began ruling Nigeria in the 1980s. Later, he changed his image as a civilian politician, claiming to be a “converted democrat” and wearing flowing kaftans to project a softer image.
Buhari was viewed by his followers as a reformer because of his strict demeanor and vehement speech against corruption. He frequently asserted, “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody,” in an effort to elevate himself beyond Nigeria’s long-standing political divisions.
However, he was unable to control the growing insecurity during his reign. Armed conflict extended well beyond the northeast, despite his pledge to vanquish Boko Haram and bring peace. By the end of his term, criminal organizations, gunmen, and separatists were able to operate freely over much of the nation.
Even if the change Buhari promised never materialized, he leaves a legacy as a symbol of democratic reform in Nigeria.
