Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, have arrived in London to receive the body of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday.
The two officials are leading the Nigerian delegation to the United Kingdom on the directive of President Bola Tinubu. The delegation, which landed in London early Monday, was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, among others.
Buhari died in London at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday after a prolonged illness, the exact nature of which was not disclosed. He had previously received medical treatment in the UK, notably in 2017, when he was flown abroad in May and returned in August of that year.
Just days ago, Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, told Channels Television that although the former president had been hospitalised, his condition was not as serious as some reports had suggested. “He was hospitalised and is being cared for. He is in recovery mode,” Shehu said. “Each day, he gets better… He is 82, eats healthily, and exercises regularly.”
Following Buhari’s death, President Tinubu ordered that flags be flown at half-mast nationwide as a mark of honour and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.
Tributes have since poured in from across the country, with many dignitaries describing the late president as a man of integrity.
Buhari, a native of Daura in Katsina State, served as Nigeria’s military head of state from January 1984 to August 1985 before returning as a democratically elected president in 2015.