Abdulsalami recalls last moments with Buhari in same London hospital

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has revealed that he and the late President Muhammadu Buhari were admitted in the same hospital in London before Buhari’s death on Sunday, July 13, 2025.

In an interview with Channels Television, Abdulsalami said he had just been discharged when he received the news of Buhari’s passing.

“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.”

He reflected on their long-standing relationship, recalling that both men joined the Nigerian military in 1962. “He was my senior; and during the unfortunate civil war, we were fighting in the same sector,” Abdulsalami said.

He described Buhari as “a gentleman who was very quiet and exceptionally honest,” noting, “You can trust Buhari with anything on this earth and he will not betray you.”

Commenting on Buhari’s years in office, Abdulsalami praised his anti-corruption efforts but admitted some officials in his administration fell short. “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.”

Abdulsalami also praised 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, describing it as a mark of national respect.

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