President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo have expressed deep sorrow over the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on Saturday in a London hospital at the age of 83 after a prolonged illness.
Tinubu confirmed the news through his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, and said he had spoken with the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, to offer condolences.
The president also ordered that all national flags fly at half-staff and directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to return Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.
Governor Ododo, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, described Buhari’s death as a monumental loss to Nigeria, Africa, and the world.
He praised the former president as a leader of strong convictions and discipline whose legacy in anti-corruption and infrastructure development continues to influence governance in Kogi State and beyond.
Earlier, Buhari’s former spokesman, Garba Shehu, confirmed his death on Sunday, noting that the late leader had been receiving treatment in the United Kingdom.
Buhari first led Nigeria as military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and later returned as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
Known for his anti-corruption stance and focus on national security, he was a central figure in Nigeria’s political evolution for over four decades.