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Muhammadu Buhari: Nigeria declares public holiday to honour former leader Muhammadu Buhari: Ex-Nigerian president to be buried at home
(about 13 hours later)
Muhammadu Buhari died in a London clinicMuhammadu Buhari died in a London clinic
Nigeria's government has declared Tuesday a public holiday to honour former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died aged 82 in a London clinic on Sunday after battling ill health for years. Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will be buried in the compound of his house in the northern state of Katsina on Tuesday, the state's Governor Dikko Radda told BBC Hausa.
"This public holiday provides an opportunity for all Nigerians to reflect on his life, leadership, and the values he upheld," Nigeria's interior minister said in a statement. Radda was with Buhari's family in London, where he died in a clinic on Sunday aged 82.
Katsina state governor Dikko Radda, who returned to Nigeria on Monday after being with Buhari's family in the British capital, said Buhari would be buried in his home state on Tuesday. Buhari's body left London on Tuesday morning on Nigeria's presidential aircraft.
”What I have gathered so far is that the corpse will arrive 12pm tomorrow and the burial will happen by 2pm,” he added. According to the schedule announced by Katsina's governor, the former president's remains will be flown directly to his state before being moved to their final resting place in Buhari's home town of Daura, 50 miles (80km) from Katsina city.
Officials say the funeral, initially expected on Monday, had been delayed for logistical reasons.
The former president's remains will be flown directly to Katsina airport before being moved to their final resting place in his home town of Daura, 50 miles (80km) from Katsina city, Radda said. Buhari's house is already filled with mourners as friends, family and well-wishers await the arrival of his corpse which is due after midday local time (11:00 GMT).
Buhari’s home is already filled with mourners as friends, family and well-wishers await the arrival of his corpse. Nigeria's government had declared Tuesday a public holiday to honour Buhari - who was also a former army general, one of only two Nigerians to have led the country as both a military leader and a democratically elected president.
The vice-president said that Buhari had died after a brief illness without revealing any further details. Nigeria's Information Minister Mohammed Idris had earlier announced that a military ceremony and Islamic prayers will be held for Buhari in Daura.
There will be a brief military ceremony at the airport in Katsina where President Bola Tinubu will "personally receive the remains of the former president", he said.
Officials say the funeral, initially expected on Monday, was delayed for logistical reasons.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who will accompany the late leader’s corpse back to Nigeria, had stated that Buhari had died after a brief illness without revealing any further details.
Buhari - the austere Nigerian military ruler who defeated a sitting presidentBuhari - the austere Nigerian military ruler who defeated a sitting president
Even though he is a former president, there will not be a state funeral. In line with Islamic teachings, Buhari will be buried as quickly as possible in a simple ceremony, Islamic cleric Abdullahi Garangamawa told the BBC. Tributes poured in for the late leader who served for two four-year terms after initially being elected president in 2015, becoming the first opposition leader to defeat an incumbent.
Tributes have continued to pour in for the late army general who led Nigeria twice - first as military leader and then as an elected president after becoming the first opposition leader to defeat an incumbent, in 2015. The man he beat, President Goodluck Jonathan, described Buhari as someone who "was selfless in his commitment to his duty and served the country with character and a deep sense of patriotism".
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, defeated by Buhari in 2015, described the late leader as someone who "was selfless in his commitment to his duty and served the country with character and a deep sense of patriotism". Former military ruler, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, who overthrew Buhari in a 1985 coup, also showered praise on the octogenarian.
Former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, who overthrew Buhari in a 1985 coup, also showered praises on the octogenarian.
"He is a man who, even in retirement, remained a moral compass to many, and an example of modesty in public life,” Babangida noted."He is a man who, even in retirement, remained a moral compass to many, and an example of modesty in public life,” Babangida noted.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to attend the funeral prayer in Daura, has declared a seven-day national mourning period in honour of his predecessor. Tinubu, who will attend the funeral prayer in Daura, declared a seven-day national mourning period in honour of his predecessor.
In an official condolence statement released on Sunday evening, Tinubu said the nation would pay its final respects to the former leader with dignity and honour, starting with the lowering of all national flags to half-mast across the country from Sunday.In an official condolence statement released on Sunday evening, Tinubu said the nation would pay its final respects to the former leader with dignity and honour, starting with the lowering of all national flags to half-mast across the country from Sunday.
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Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
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