By Omowumi Omotosho
Former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has died at the age of 82. The announcement was made on Sunday afternoon by his longtime spokesperson, Garba Shehu, in a post on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihirrajiuun,” Shehu wrote. “The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.”
There were reports of his illness earlier this month and his former aide Bashir Ahmad confirmed that the former president was receiving medical attention in London, while dismissing suggestions that he was in critical condition.
Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023 after previously ruling as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985, had struggled with recurring health challenges throughout his presidency.
One of the most prolonged episodes occurred in 2017, during his first term in office, when he spent over 150 days in London receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed illness. The long absence sparked national anxiety, questions about the state of governance, and public demand for greater transparency. Although he returned to office, concerns about his health persisted into his second term, with frequent medical trips abroad and visible signs of physical frailty.
Amid the opacity surrounding his condition, a bizarre conspiracy theory began to spread, suggesting that Buhari had died during one of his medical trips and had been secretly replaced by a body double named “Jubril from Sudan.” The rumor, which gained traction on social media and among some opposition figures, claimed the man Nigerians saw after 2017 was not Buhari but an impostor planted by a foreign cabal.
The wild theory was repeatedly debunked by fact-checkers and strongly denied by the presidency. In 2018, Buhari himself publicly addressed the claim during a trip to Poland, stating, “It’s the real me, I assure you, I will soon celebrate my 76th birthday and I will still go strong.” Despite the denial, the rumor persisted online, fueled by political rivalries, distrust in government, and Buhari’s limited public appearances.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari was a towering figure in Nigeria’s political landscape. Known for his anti-corruption rhetoric and reputation for discipline. While some praised his efforts to clean up government institutions, others criticized his administration for worsening insecurity, human rights concerns, and economic mismanagement.
