By Peter Omopo | July 14, 2025
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has revealed that he and the late President Muhammadu Buhari were both admitted to the same hospital in London before the former president’s passing on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 82.
In an emotional interview with Channels Television on Monday, Abdulsalami recounted the poignant final moments and offered a personal tribute to his longtime friend and colleague.
“Unfortunately, we were in the same hospital together. But I had just been discharged when I heard the news of his passing,” Abdulsalami stated.
He said upon receiving the news, he returned to the hospital to condole with the family and assist with arrangements for the repatriation of Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.
A Brotherhood of Soldiers
Reflecting on their bond, Abdulsalami recalled that their relationship spanned more than six decades, beginning in the Nigerian military.
“He was my senior, and during the unfortunate civil war, we were fighting in the same sector,” he said.
He described Buhari as a man of remarkable integrity, discipline, and gentle composure.
“He was a gentleman—very quiet and exceptionally honest. You could trust Buhari with anything on this earth and he would not betray you,” Abdulsalami noted.
On Leadership and Legacy
General Abdulsalami praised Buhari’s dedication to public service, especially his anti-corruption stance during his time as Nigeria’s democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
However, he acknowledged that some members of Buhari’s administration fell short of the standards he set.
“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,” he remarked.
Abdulsalami also highlighted the regional significance of Buhari’s death, stating that it marked a major loss for Nigeria and West Africa as a whole.
Commending Tinubu’s Swift Response
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his rapid response in dispatching Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to London to oversee the process of returning Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.
“That shows the magnitude of what has befallen Nigeria,” Abdulsalami said.
He concluded with a hope that Buhari’s passing would inspire a new phase in Nigerian politics—one marked by integrity and national purpose.
“With the passing away of Buhari, politics in Nigeria will certainly change—I hope for the better,” he said solemnly.
Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s military ruler from 1983 to 1985 and as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, is expected to be buried in Daura, Katsina State, with full state honours.
