Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has revealed that he was admitted to the same London hospital as late President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 82.

In an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Abdulsalami disclosed that he had just been discharged when news of Buhari’s death reached him.

“Unfortunately, we were in the same hospital together. But I have been discharged. 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 recounted.

Reflecting on their long-standing relationship, Abdulsalami said his ties with Buhari date back over six decades to their time in the Nigerian military.

“He was my senior, and during the unfortunate civil war, we were fighting in the same sector with him,” he recalled.

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

On Buhari’s leadership, Abdulsalami praised his unwavering commitment to the anti-corruption fight, though he acknowledged that not all members of his administration met public expectations.

“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. They didn’t do as much as was expected from them,” he noted.

Abdulsalami described Buhari’s death as a profound loss not only to Nigeria but to the wider West African region.

He also commended President Bola Tinubu for his swift response in dispatching Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to London to coordinate the return of Buhari’s remains.

“That shows the magnitude of what has befallen Nigeria. With the passing away of Buhari, politics in Nigeria will certainly change, I hope for the better,” he concluded.