“Why I Joined the Military”: Video of Buhari's Final Interview Trends

• Weeks before his demise, former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died at the age of 82, mentioned the actual reason he joined the Nigerian Army in 1962
• Buhari, in an interview granted to his former minister, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, said he ran away from home to join the military because he didn't want to get married
• Nigerians have taken to the social media platform X to react to the trending clip of Buhari's revelation

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Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

A video of the final interview granted by the late former Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, has surfaced on social media.

Buhari's final interview trends

In the trending clip, the late president, speaking exclusively with the former minister of communication, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, revealed that he joined the Nigerian Army in 1962, to avoid getting married immediately after he finished his senior secondary school education.

"I ran away because I don’t want to get married after finishing secondary school to enter the military," Buhari said in Hausa language as seen in the trending clip.

Buhari's last public appearance

Legit.ng earlier reported that Buhari died on Sunday afternoon, July 13, 2025, at a London hospital, United Kingdom.

Buhari's last public appearance was when former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and ex-governors, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Achike Udenwa (Imo), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), and others visited him at his Kaduna residence a few weeks ago.

Reactions trail Buhari last interview before death

As usual, Nigerians took to the comment section on X, to shared their opinion on late Buhari's revelation. Legit.ng compiled a few reactions below;

@SaniAminuMuham4 tweeted:

"May Almighty Allah grant him Aljenatul Firdaus."

@AhmadFaskari tweeted:

"Allah SWT Shi yi masa rahma."

@SegDiane tweeted:

"Interesting story. Rest on General."

@asap_kamal tweeted:

"Accidental National Hero."

@salihuibrahim91 tweeted:

"May Allah repose his soul and grand him aljannah firdaus as his final abode."

@Usmanrilwan4 tweeted:

"May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him jannatul firdausi."

@Sam336598873826 tweeted:

"Nothing good will ne remembered about him, only death, pain, and corruption."

Watch late Buhari's full interview below:

Read more about the late Buhari here:

• Buhari's death: Tinubu orders all national flags to fly at half-staff for 7 days
• El-Rufai reacts to mentor Buhari’s death, recounts late president’s virtues
• Buhari’s last words while leaving presidency resurfaces in video, breaks hearts
• Small Muhammadu Buhari bags lifelong scholarship after wowing crowd at national event
• “How Buhari harassed my key officials,” Jonathan drops bombshell

Tinubu orders Shettima after Buhari's death

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that President Tinubu confirmed the death of former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari in London after a prolonged illness.

Tinubu ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to travel to the UK to bring Buhari’s body home and directed flags to be flown at half staff.

Buhari, who led Nigeria both as military head of state and elected president, left behind a significant legacy in the nation’s political history.

Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.