Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the late immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, as a “cool patriot” who “tried his best” to develop Nigeria.
Buhari died on Sunday in a hospital in London, United
Kingdom, at the age of 82.
Garba Shehu, the former president’s spokesperson, announced
his passing in a post on X.
Buhari, who had been battling an undisclosed ailment, was
recently discharged from an intensive care unit in London, according to family
sources.
In a statement signed by Kehinde Akinyemi, his media aide,
Obasanjo said he received the news of Buhari’s death with a heavy heart.
“It is with a heavy heart that I received this afternoon the
passing of a colleague, a comrade, a cool patriot, General Muhammadu Buhari,
who, as a soldier, played his role as a soldier. As an administrator, he played
his role as an administrator, and as a statesman, he played his role as a
statesman, of course,” the statement reads.
“At a time like this, we need the totality of the experience
and what I may call statesmanship of all those who have had opportunities to
run the affairs of this country to get us out of the situation we are in.
“He will be surely missed. May his soul rest in perfect
peace.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed Vice-President
Kashim Shettima and Femi Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff, to travel to London
to accompany Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.
He also directed that national flags be flown at half-staff
“as a mark of respect for the departed leader”.
During Buhari’s presidency, Obasanjo famously wrote at least
three open letters to the late leader, criticising his administration.
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