Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Passes Away

Muhammadu Buhari, a former military leader of Nigeria who later became the first opposition candidate to secure a presidential victory, has died at the age of 82.

His passing occurred on Sunday afternoon at a clinic in London, as confirmed by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, who cited the family. No further details were disclosed.

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During his presidency, Buhari dealt with ongoing poverty and unemployment in Africa’s most populous nation, along with a dramatic increase in insecurity and kidnappings. He aimed to diversify the economy away from oil, which accounts for most of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

Throughout his tenure, the economy fell into recession two times over four years, leading to a decline in the wealth and security of Nigerians by nearly every measure. The World Bank estimates that Nigeria ranks among the highest in extreme poverty worldwide.

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Buhari concluded his second elected term in May 2023 and was succeeded by Bola Tinubu.

After stepping down, he returned to his hometown of Daura, where he raised cattle and kept a low profile.

Buhari married Aisha Buhari in 1989, with whom he had five children. Additionally, he had two more children with his first wife, Safinatu Yusuf, who passed away in 1990.

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