“We Were in the Same Hospital” — Abdulsalami Recalls Final Moments with Buhari in London

Former Nigerian military head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has shared emotional details about the final moments of his longtime friend and colleague, Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London on Sunday at the age of 82. In an interview with Channels Television, Abdulsalami revealed that both men were admitted to the same hospital in the UK before Buhari’s death. “Unfortunately, we were in the same hospital together. But I have been discharged,” he 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.”

Abdulsalami spoke warmly about their relationship, which began in 1962 when they both joined the Nigerian military. “He was my senior; and during the unfortunate civil war, we were fighting in the same sector with him,” he said. He described Buhari as a quiet and principled man, known for his honesty and integrity. “You can trust Buhari with anything on this earth and he will not betray you,” he said.

Reflecting on Buhari’s time in office, Abdulsalami praised his commitment to fighting corruption, though he acknowledged that not all members of Buhari’s administration lived up to expectations. “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,” he noted.

He called Buhari’s passing a “big blow” to Nigeria and the region, and commended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to send Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to London to oversee the return of Buhari’s remains. “It shows the magnitude of what has befallen Nigeria,” he said. Abdulsalami concluded by expressing hope that Buhari’s death would mark a turning point in Nigerian politics. “With the passing away of Buhari, politics in Nigeria will certainly change — I hope for the better,” he said.