Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has passed away at the age of 82 in a London clinic, his family confirmed on Sunday.
Garba Shehu, Buhari’s former spokesperson, announced the news in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The family of the former president has announced the passing of Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a London clinic. May Allah grant him eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.”
Buhari had been battling an undisclosed illness and was recently discharged from intensive care in London, according to family sources. He reportedly fell ill during a routine medical check-up abroad and remained under observation until his condition worsened.
A retired major general, Buhari was a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, first serving as military head of state from 1983 to 1985 before being elected as civilian president in 2015. His two-term presidency, which ended in 2023, was marked by anti-corruption efforts, economic reforms, and initiatives to tackle nationwide insecurity.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced shortly as tributes pour in from across Nigeria and beyond.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.