Nigeria mourns as former president Muhammadu Buhari passes away at 82

ABUJA, Nigeria 

Muhammadu Buhari, former military ruler and later democratically elected President of Nigeria, died in London on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at age 82, following a prolonged illness.

The announcement came from the Office of the Nigerian Presidency. Following his death, Bola Tinubu, the current President, declared three(3) days of national mourning, ordered official flags to fly at half mast, and sent the Vice President to accompany Buhari’s body to Nigeria.

Buhari first seized power in a 1983 military coup, ruling Nigeria with an iron fist until his overthrow in 1985. 

He later returned to the presidency via democratic elections in 2015, and was re-elected in 2019, becoming the first opposition leader to unseat an incumbent president.

He campaigned under an anti-corruption platform and positioned himself as "a converted democrat." Yet critics say his reforms were selective and that two recessions, rising inflation, and insecurity marred his presidency. His government was also blamed for suppressing the #EndSARS protests in 2020.

Kenyan readers may note strong echoes of our own political landscape. Buhari's rule highlighted the pitfalls that come with leadership transitions unaccompanied by institutional reforms.

His extended periods abroad for medical treatment, at times shrouded in secrecy, fuelled public distrust — not unlike debates sparked here by large-scale travel by our own leaders amidst poor service delivery.

As Nigeria reflects on his legacy, Kenya sits at a similar crossroads: Can powerful reformist messages survive the challenge of entrenched systems? Will promises of clean governance and youth empowerment be matched with meaningful structural change?

Amenities launched under his administration—like social welfare programmes and infrastructure—still stand, but the gains remain overshadowed by contested accountability and widening inequality.

In death, as in life, Buhari remains a polarising figure--described by some as principled and austere, by others as aloof and ineffective.

For many Nigerians, he leaves behind a bitter-sweet legacy: a leader with lofty ideals whose time in office fell short of transformative change.

For Kenya, the story presents both caution and clarity: rhetoric alone does not deliver reform. Instead, sustained institutional and democratic empowerment is essential—especially when responding to youth unrest, rising cost of living, and fears around state accountability.

Muhammadu Buhari's passing closes a chapter in African politics. His journey from military ruler to elected office reflects the complexities of governance across our continent. And as Kenya navigates its own political evolution, we may find wisdom—both warning and reassurance—in his experience.