Thousands Mourn as Nigeria Bids Farewell to Ex-President
Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was buried in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, on July 15, 2025, following his death in a London clinic on July 13 at age 82 after a prolonged illness. Thousands lined the streets for his Islamic funeral, attended by President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and dignitaries like Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. Tinubu described Buhari as “a patriot, a soldier, a statesman,” ordering a seven-day mourning period.
Buhari, who ruled as military head from 1983 to 1985 after a coup and as elected president from 2015 to 2023, was the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan, in 2015. Promising to tackle corruption and Boko Haram, he faced criticism for economic mismanagement, with Nigeria enduring recessions in 2016-17 and 2020, and for failing to curb insecurity, including the 2014 Chibok kidnapping and 2020 End SARS protest killings, per The New York Times.
His tenure saw inflation hit double digits, a faltering naira, and oil production drop to a 20-year low due to Niger Delta attacks. Buhari’s refusal to devalue the naira, despite IMF advice, worsened foreign currency shortages. His anti-corruption drive yielded few convictions, and ministers faced embezzlement probes. Prolonged medical trips to London, totaling over seven months, sparked public anger over Nigeria’s poor healthcare, per The Guardian.
Despite retaining northern support for his austere image and perceived integrity, critics like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie called him “malevolently aloof,” citing authoritarian tendencies, including the 2015 killing of 350 Shiite Muslims and social media restrictions post-End SARS. Supporters, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, praised his discipline and service, while critics noted his failure to address poverty and violence, per Bloomberg.
Buhari’s burial, marked by military honors and a flag handover to his family, reflected his polarizing legacy. Tributes from leaders like Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio and AfDB’s Akinwumi Adesina lauded his patriotism, while analysts like Bulama Bukarti highlighted unfulfilled promises. His death closes a chapter on a leader who shaped Nigeria’s democratic and military history, leaving debates over his impact on unity and progress.