Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana paid separate visits to Vice President Kashim Shettima in London on Monday, where they offered glowing tributes to Nigeria’s late former leader, Muhammadu Buhari.

Vice President Shettima is in the United Kingdom on the directive of President Bola Tinubu to accompany Buhari’s body back to Nigeria for a state burial.

Jonathan and Akufo-Addo, both of whom worked closely with Buhari during his tenure, described his passing as a profound loss to Africa and a blow to the cause of democratic leadership on the continent.

Shettima is leading a high-level delegation comprising the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia.

The body of the late President is expected to arrive in Nigeria ahead of a state funeral in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday.