See UNTOLD Story Of How Buhari Died & Was Buried in Saudi Arabia; READ What Nnamdi Kanu Revealed
In 2018, a storm of controversy erupted when Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), claimed that Nigeria’ s then- President Muhammadu Buhari had died and been buried in Saudi Arabia. Kanu’ s allegations, delivered in an audio message shortly after his reappearance in Israel, reignited debates and conspiracies surrounding Buhari’ s health and leadership.
Kanu, a polarizing figure known for advocating the independence of the southeastern region of Nigeria, had been a fugitive since 2017 following his release on bail. His resurfacing in 2018 came with sensational claims that challenged the very identity of Nigeria’ s leadership. In the audio message released on a Sunday, Kanu alleged that Buhari had passed away during his medical treatment abroad and that the Nigerian government had conspired to replace him with a lookalike.
The message quickly went viral, capturing the attention of both local and international audiences. Kanu stated, ” Buhari is dead and buried in Saudi Arabia. What you have is an impostor from Sudan called Jubril. ” These claims aligned with earlier conspiracy theories suggesting that Buhari, who had spent months in London for medical treatment in 2017, had succumbed to illness during that period.
Kanu’ s statements also included sharp criticism of those opposing the Biafran movement. He accused them of cowardice and betrayal, saying, ” Cowards run away when they see us. Some people were writing a lot of nonsense about us, suggesting I was in London and merely using Facebook. ” He defended his commitment to the cause, recalling his bold return to Nigeria in 2015 despite risks to his safety. ” I arrived in the zoo on October 14, 2015. I told them I was coming, and I came. They dared me to return, and I did, ” he declared, using ” zoo” as a derogatory term for Nigeria.
The Nigerian government and President Buhari’ s aides vehemently denied Kanu’ s claims, dismissing them as absurd and politically motivated. Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu called the allegations ” baseless, ” urging Nigerians to ignore such distractions. Buhari himself addressed the rumors during a public event in Poland in 2018, stating, ” The ignorant rumors are not surprising. But the real me is here. ”
While Kanu’ s assertions garnered significant attention, they were widely criticized for lacking evidence. Analysts viewed the claims as a tactic to rally IPOB supporters and discredit the Nigerian government. Nevertheless, the allegations underscored the deep mistrust many Nigerians felt toward their leaders, fueled by a history of secrecy and speculation surrounding presidential health issues.
The 2018 incident remains a controversial chapter in Nigeria’ s political history, reflecting the power of conspiracy theories in shaping public discourse. Kanu’ s claims, though unsubstantiated, highlighted the challenges of maintaining transparency in leadership and the enduring influence of populist rhetoric in Nigerian politics.
