Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), has revealed that he was admitted to the same London hospital as former President Muhammadu Buhari shortly before the latter’s death.
In an emotional tribute during an interview with Channels Television, the former military leader said he had only just been discharged from the hospital when news of Buhari’s passing reached him on Sunday.
“Unfortunately, we were in the same hospital together. But I have been discharged,” Abdulsalami said. “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.”
Buhari, who died at the age of 82 following a prolonged illness, passed away on Sunday afternoon in the United Kingdom.
Reflecting on their decades-long relationship, Abdulsalami recalled their shared military background and camaraderie.
“Our relationship dates back to 1962 when we both joined the Nigerian military. He was my senior, and during the unfortunate civil war, we were fighting in the same sector,” he said.
He described the late President as a man of deep integrity. “He was a gentleman who was very quiet and exceptionally honest. You could trust Buhari with anything on this earth and he would not betray you,” he added.
Abdulsalami commended Buhari’s anti-corruption stance during his tenure, though he admitted that not all who served under him upheld the same values.
“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 of them,” he noted.
Abdulsalami described Buhari’s death as “a big blow” not just to Nigeria but to the wider West African subregion, noting that President Bola Tinubu’s swift response reflected the gravity of the loss.
“President Tinubu’s decision to send his deputy, Kashim Shettima, and Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the UK to oversee the return of Buhari’s remains shows the magnitude of what has befallen Nigeria,” he said.
Looking ahead, Abdulsalami said Buhari’s passing could mark a turning point in the country’s political trajectory. “With the passing away of Buhari, politics in Nigeria will certainly change, I hope, for the better,” he concluded.
