Abdulsalami Abubakar Reveals He Was Hospitalized Alongside Buhari Before Ex-President’s Death

Former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has disclosed that he and the late President Muhammadu Buhari were admitted to the same hospital in London prior to Buhari’s passing.

Buhari, 82, died on Sunday, July 13, after a brief illness.

Speaking with Channels Television, Abubakar, 83, said he had been discharged from the hospital before Buhari’s death.

“Unfortunately, we were in the hospital together, but I have been discharged,” he said. “When I heard the news of his passing away, I quickly went there to condole with the family and see what can be done in order to get the corpse ready to be taken home.”

Abubakar recounted his long-standing relationship with Buhari, dating back to their early military careers in 1962. He described the late leader as a quiet but honest man, known for his integrity.

“Gen. Buhari is a gentleman who is very quiet but exceptionally honest. You can trust Buhari with anything on this earth and he will not betray you,” he said.

He also commended Buhari’s anti-corruption stance during both his military regime and democratic presidency, citing the creation of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) during his military rule.

“When he became a democratic president, again he tried his best to fight corruption. Unfortunately, some of the officers who served with him didn’t do as much as expected. May he rest in peace,” Abubakar added.

Reflecting on the significance of Buhari’s passing, the former leader described it as a major loss for Nigeria and noted that President Bola Tinubu had sent Vice President Kashim Shettima to London to escort Buhari’s remains back to Nigeria.

“With the passing away of President Buhari, politics in Nigeria will certainly change—I hope for the better,” he concluded.

Buhari is scheduled to be buried on Tuesday, July 15, in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.