July 14, (THEWILL) — Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Monday, paid a condolence visit to Aisha Buhari, the widow of former President Muhammadu Buhari, in London, following the former president’s death on Sunday.
Shettima was accompanied on the visit by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia.
During the visit, the Vice President and his delegation also met with other members of the Buhari family in London.
The visit came as preparations for the repatriation of the former president’s remains to Nigeria were ongoing.
The late president’s body, which was initially scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Monday, is now expected to arrive on Tuesday.
Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umar Radda, confirmed that the remains of the late president would arrive in Nigeria by 12 noon on Tuesday, with the burial slated for 2:00 p.m. in Daura, his hometown.
“We have made consultations with his family and people around him in London. We have concluded that the body will arrive tomorrow by 12 p.m. His remains will be laid to rest at 2 p.m.,” Radda said.
The late president died at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness.
He will be buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
President Bola Tinubu, in honour of Buhari’s service to the nation, declared a seven-day period of national mourning beginning Sunday, July 13, with flags to be flown at half-mast nationwide.
The Katsina State Government also declared Monday a public holiday in the state, urging residents to observe prayers for the repose of the former president’s soul.
Buhari served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and was later elected civilian president in 2015, serving two terms until 2023.
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