EXCLUSIVE: Even In Death, Buhari Lucky, Why Corpse Arrived Late From UK

The remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Nigeria on Tuesday nearly two hours behind schedule for the burial in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.

Buhari passed away on Sunday at the age of 82 at The Clinic, London.

The corpse arrived at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Airport in Katsina at 1:50 p.m and was received by President Bola Tinubu who led Nigeria’s political and business elites.

Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, led a high-level delegation to London to condole with the Buhari family and finalize logistical arrangements for the repatriation of the remains of the late president.

The delay in the arrival of the corpse from London, which stirred curiosity amongst mourners and dignitaries gathered to pay their last respects, was attributed to logistical challenges encountered in transporting the late president’s body.

Sources with knowledge of the burial arrangements revealed to THE WHISTLER that the delay in Tuesday’s arrival stemmed from challenges in fitting the casket into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft deployed to repatriate the former president’s remains.

The source said the coffin carrying Buhari’s body could not fit into the aircraft’s cargo hold, prompting handlers to reconfigure the transport by placing the casket in the aircraft’s cabin.

The adjustment required additional time to ensure the safe and respectful handling of the remains, the said added.

“You would have noticed that the remains of the former president was not in the cabin hold as is the proper procedure, rather in the main cabin.

“The corpse was brought in casket draped with the Nigerian flag. But it could not fit as the aircraft isn’t designed for that and the British airport authorities won’t yield owing to safety concerns. And with the intent not to have him in a body bag, it took much time and persuasion to wrap up the corpse and use the Nigerian flag to drape it after proper wrapping,” the source explained.

According to the source who asked not to be named for security reasons, “the front seats inside were collapsed and the tables unfolded providing a bedlike platform for the remains to be tied up.”

Upon arrival in Katsina, the casket draped in the Nigerian flag, was received with full honours by personnel of the Nigerian Military.

President Bola Tinubu, President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, State Governors led by the host governor, Dikko Radda, National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, former President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou, former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Tukur Buratai, Service Chiefs, and many other top dignitaries were amongst those on ground to receive the corpse.

A brief military ceremony was held at the airport before the remains were transported to Daura for the Jana’iza (funeral prayer) and interment at the late president’s residence.

Buhari, who served as president from 2015 to 2023 and as Head of State from 1983 to 1985.

He travelled to the UK in April for a routine medical check-up but his condition deteriorated.

The Federal Government had declared Tuesday a public holiday as part of a seven-day national mourning period announced by President Tinubu to honour Buhari’s legacy.

Flags across the country are being flown at half-mast, and state governments and private sector entities have been directed to comply.

President Tinubu had also constituted an inter-ministerial committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to oversee the state burial.

The committee included ministers, the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Chief of Defence Staff, among others. Twenty-five members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) were directed to attend the burial rites and remain in Daura for the third-day prayers on Wednesday.

A special FEC session initially planned for Tuesday to honour Buhari’s “invaluable contributions to our country” was postponed indefinitely due to the state funeral.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced on Tuesday that a new date would be announced after the funeral proceedings.

Condolence registers have been opened at federal ministries, departments, agencies, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, and Nigerian Embassies and Missions abroad.

Buhari is survived by his wife, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, and eight children.

EXCLUSIVE: Even In Death, Buhari Lucky, Why Corpse Arrived Late From UK is first published on The Whistler Newspaper