Tributes continue to pour in from across Nigeria and beyond following the death of the immediate past President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London on Sunday after a protracted illness.
The news has left many stunned, including global figures and top Nigerian officials, who have expressed profound sorrow at the passing of the country’s former leader.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and former Nigerian Minister of Finance, was among the first international figures to react with visible shock upon learning of Buhari’s death.
READ ALSO: Fani-Kayode, Omokri mourn Buhari’s death
In a deeply emotional message posted shortly after extending her well-wishes, she revealed her dismay upon hearing of his passing.
“Unbelievable! I did not know just how ill HE President Buhari was and minutes after sending my get well wishes I have just learned that he passed away,” she wrote. “I am so very sad. May the Soul of HE @MBuhari rest in perfect peace. My deepest condolences to the entire Buhari family and his close aides and associates.”
Similarly, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), Nigeria’s former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, also paid tribute to the late president, invoking prayers and religious sentiments in his message of condolence.
“The eyes shed tears, and the heart is grieved, but we do not say anything except what pleases our Lord. O Baba Buhari, we are grieved by your separation,” Pantami stated.
“May Allah forgive his shortcomings and admit him into Jannatul Firdaus.”
The death of Muhammadu Buhari marks the end of an era for a man who once ruled Nigeria as a military head of state in the 1980s before returning as a democratically elected president in 2015, serving two terms until 2023.
His legacy remains the subject of national reflection—hailed for his fight against corruption and criticized for perceived lapses in governance and security.
Condolences have continued to flood social media platforms and traditional news channels, with Nigerians expressing sorrow over the loss while also engaging in sober assessments of his life and times.
The Buhari family, in a brief statement released through official channels, requested prayers and privacy as they mourn their patriarch.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days, as Nigeria begins a period of national mourning for a man who shaped the country’s modern political landscape in more ways than one.
