Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has shared emotional details of his final encounter with the late President Muhammadu Buhari, revealing that they were both patients at the same hospital in London shortly before Buhari’s death.
Buhari, Nigeria’s former military ruler and two-term civilian president, died on Sunday at the age of 82.
“Unfortunately, we were in the same hospital together. But I have been discharged,” Abdulsalami said in an interview with Channels Television. “So, when I heard the news of his passing away, I quickly went there to condole the family and see what could be done in order to get the corpse ready to be taken home.”
Abdulsalami recalled their long-standing friendship that began in 1962 when they both enlisted in the Nigerian military. He also recounted their shared experiences during the civil war. “He was my senior; and during the unfortunate civil war, we were fighting in the same sector with him,” he said.
Describing Buhari’s character, Abdulsalami said: “He was a gentleman who was very quiet and exceptionally honest. You can trust Buhari with anything on this earth and he will not betray you.”
Reflecting on Buhari’s time in office, the former military leader praised his anti-corruption drive but noted that some members of his government failed to meet public expectations. “When he became a democratic president, he tried his best to fight corruption. Unfortunately, some of the officers who served with him are found wanting. They didn’t do as much as was expected from them,” he stated.
He described Buhari’s death as a “big blow” to Nigeria and the West African region. “With the passing away of Buhari, politics in Nigeria will certainly change — I hope for the better,” Abdulsalami added.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for sending Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to oversee arrangements in London, calling the gesture evidence of the “magnitude of what has befallen Nigeria.”
