President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed and announced the death of the Nigeria immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari at a London Hospital at about 4:30pm on Sunday, after years of rumours and speculations by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu that the person that ruled Nigeria for the last eight years died few years after he took over office on May 29, 2015.
The news of former President Buhari’s death came at a time the ex President was a major point of discussion during the preceding week after the personal media aide to the late President, Garba Shehu confessed he lied to cover up the health issues of the then President Muhammadu Buhari, a confession, the Indigenous People of Biafra described and said that the Garba Shehu’s confessional statement about the use of the “Villa rat” invasion story to cover up former President Muhammadu Buhari’s illness vindicates its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu who had speculated years ago, starting from 2018 that the real Muhammadu Buhari died few years after assuming office, that, the man that ruled Nigeria for the last part of first tenure and second tenure was Mr Jubril al Sudani from Sudan.
In a statement on Saturday by the Biafra group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said Kanu was the first to expose Buhari’s health condition and was persecuted for it.
The group described Shehu’s confession as a delayed confession born out of guilt and irrelevance.
“Where was this honesty when the Nigerian people needed it? Where was this ‘truth’ when IPOB and our leader were being vilified, jailed, and labelled terrorists for speaking it?
“If this level of deliberate misinformation had happened in any sane society, those responsible would be in jail for subverting the constitution, undermining national security, and deceiving the electorate. But Nigeria rewards mediocrity, protects liars, and punishes truth-tellers.
“The truth is like the rising sun — it cannot be suppressed. Today, Garba Shehu has confessed. Tomorrow others will follow. Aso Rock is a house built on lies, and the foundation is shaking,” the statement added.
The Former President, Muhammadu Buhari had begged for forgiveness if he had done anyone wrong. In 2023, he said at a gathering that; “Whoever thought that there has been some form of injustice on him we are all humans, there is no doubt I hurt some people, and I wish they would pardon me and those who think that I have hurt them, please pardon me”, late President Muhammadu Buhari stated this in May, 2023, according to the video republished on X social media platform on Sunday by one of his former media assistants, Bashir Ahmad.
According to the Press Release by the President spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu has directed the Vice President Shettima to travel to the United Kingdom to accompany the body of the former president back home.
The statement reads in quotes thus: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the passing of his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari died today in London at about 4:30pm, following a prolonged illness.
President Tinubu has spoken with Mrs Aishat Buhari, the former President’s widow and offered his deep condolences.
President Tinubu has also directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed to the United Kingdom to accompany President Muhammadu Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.
Former President Buhari was twice elected Nigeria’s President in 2015 and 2023.
He also served as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985.
President Tinubu has ordered flags at half-staff as a mark of respect for the departed leader”, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy stated this on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
On a personal note, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said; “It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I received the news of the passing of His Excellency, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Retired), GCFR, my predecessor, who departed this life today, Sunday, July 13, 2025, at a hospital in the United Kingdom.
President Buhari was to the very core, a patriot, a soldier, a statesman. His legacy of service and sacrifice endures. He served Nigeria with unwavering dedication, first as a military leader from January 1984 to August 1985, and later as a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023. Duty, honour, and a deep commitment to the unity and progress of our nation defined his life.
He stood firm through the most turbulent times, leading with quiet strength, profound integrity, and an unshakable belief in Nigeria’s potential. He championed discipline in public service, confronted corruption head-on, and placed the country above personal interest at every turn.
In this moment of national mourning, I extend my deepest condolences to his beloved wife, Aisha, with whom I have been in constant touch, his children, the entire Buhari family, and all who knew and loved him.
I also extend my condolences to the government and people of Katsina State, most especially the people and traditional leaders of Daura Emirate.
We honour his service. We reflect on his legacy. And we pray for the peaceful repose of his soul.
As a mark of respect to our former leader, I have directed that all national flags fly at half-staff across the country for seven days from today.
I have also summoned an emergency Federal Executive Council session on Tuesday, dedicated to his honour.
The Federal Government will accord President Buhari full state honours befitting his towering contributions to our country.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus.
And may his life continue to inspire generations of Nigerians to serve with courage, conviction, and selflessness”, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria stated this on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
It would be recalled that in April 2019 during the preparation for the Nigeria General elections, Nnamdi Kanu came up with a fresh claim about the true nationality of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Kanu, in his broadcast from the United Kingdom, said that neither “dead” Muhammadu Buhari, nor “his replacement” Jubril al Sudani, is qualified to contest for Nigeria’s presidential election.
Nnamdi Kanu argued that being born on Nigerian soil was not enough to qualify one as a Nigerian citizen by birth, unless the parents, grandparents of such person is also born in Nigeria.
The IPOB leader said that Buhari’s father, Hardo Adamu, was a nomadic Fulani trader, a duck seller, from Niger Republic and later became a bodyguard in the Emir of Daura’s palace, which made him to settle in Daura, Katsina State, adding that he (Hardo) was borne in Niger Republic, not Nigeria.
Nnamdi Kanu vowed to continue his efforts to unmask Jubril Aminu Al Sudani, the Sudanese man who he had claimed is replaced the then President Buhari in the presidential villa.
In a video he posted on social media to wish his followers a Happy 2019, Kanu who went missing in September 2017 and resurfaced in Israel in October 2018, said the worst days for the secessionist group were over and that 2019 promises to be appointed year of Biafra Independence and in the video, Kanu vowed to ensure that activities in ”Biafra land” will be grounded during the presidential election.
He said; “The unmasking of Jubril Aminu Al Sudani the fake Nigerian President will continue unabated. By the time we are done with him and his handlers, Luggard will become truly ashamed of what he created. I would like to see Nigerians participate in elections where one of the names on the ballot paper is a dead man.
This shame and humiliation is one that will never leave Nigeria as it heads ingloriously towards self destruction.
We understand the enemy has announced yet another round of Fulani military invasion of our land in the name of Operation Python Dance, no doubt to help facilitate the rigging of elections for Jubril Al Sudani and the cronies of Fulani Cabal across Nigeria. What I said previously still stand and there is no going back. Chukwu Okike Abiama is my witness that any reported shooting or killing of any Biafran by this Fulani Janjaweed Army of Nigeria will be avenged” he said.
In December 2019, then President Muhammadu Buhari personally spoke and said he’s not the Jubril from Sudan, that, he’s the real Buhari Nigerians voted for.