BREAKING: Former President Muhammadu Buhari is dead

Former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has passed away at the age of 82 years at a clinic in London, United Kingdom.

This was disclosed in a statement shared by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on his personal X account on Sunday.

“INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHIRRAJIUUN. 

“The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. 

“May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.”

Following the news of illness, Tribune Online reports that his former aide, Bashir Ahmad, recently confirmed that the former president was receiving medical attention, but dismissed widespread claims suggesting he was in critical condition.

ALSO READ: What to know about Nigeria’s former President, late Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari, a retired General and former Nigeria’s head of state, emerged a democratically elected President in 2015, as the first presidential candidate of the then-newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) – a party formed from a merger of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP),All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Buhari’s APC successfully ousted the flag of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and incumbent President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Late Buhari was re-elected for a second term in office in 2019, beating his closest rival and PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Confirming Buhari’s death, Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, directed both Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to proceed to London, United Kingdom (UK) and accompany the body of the late former President to Nigeria.

The President also ordered all flags to fly at half-mast across the country as prominent Nigerians, politicians and foreign diplomats continue to mourn the retired Major General who was the first to oust the flag of an incumbent President as a democratically elected president in Nigeria.

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