As 2025 eventually concluded, some prominent Nigerians, were not able to finish the cycle of the year.
These notable figures, who began 2025 with tremendous hope and optimism, wishing Nigerians a productive year, had no idea that they would not live to see the end of the year.
The Grim Reaper has assassinated several prominent figures around the country. Several Nigerian leaders died early this year, while others died near the end of the year, leaving political legacies that sparked national reflection.
WITHIN NIGERIA chronicles seven famous Nigerian leaders whose deaths surprised all by surprise and shook the nation in 2025.
Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga
She was born on December 2, 1965, in Hammersmith, London. She was a businesswoman and Nigerian politician who served as Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives.
She represented the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency in Ogun State under the All Progressives Congress (APC). She built a career spanning systems administration, event management, and environmental advocacy before entering politics. She served as a chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development (9th Assembly).
She died at age 59 after a brief illness, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated public service and community empowerment. Before her sad demise, she had reportedly been out of public space since October 2024.
The Senate held a special plenary tribute. They observed a minute of silence, adjourned in her honor, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio led a delegation to visit Speaker Abass to convey condolences. The session featured eulogies from several senators, including the Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark
He was born on May 25, 1927, in Kiagbodo, Delta State. He was a legal practitioner. He attended Holborn College of Law, London. He began his career as a teacher before entering politics.
He served as a federal commissioner for information in 1975. He served as commissioner for education and finance in the Midwestern state (1968-1975). He served as a senator in the Second Republic (1979-1983).
He founded the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Edwin Clark University after resigning as a pro-chancellor of the University of Benin.
He passed away peacefully at his Abuja residence on the evening of Monday, February 17, 2025, at the age of 97. He had been rushed to a private hospital earlier that night due to breathing complications, where he succumbed to his condition early the next morning.
Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo
He was born on April 10, 1928, in Ijebu-Ogbu Oke, Ogun State. He studied law in the United Kingdom and was called to the English Bar in 1961. He was a longtime leader of the Yoruba socio‑cultural group Afenifere.
He was a founding member of the Action Group (1951). He served as its organizing secretary and later led Afenifere after its revival in 1989. He was jailed and exiled to Ghana in 1962 after being charged with treason.
He passed away peacefully at his home in Lekki, Lagos, on the morning of Friday, February 14, 2025. He died at the age of 96. He had reportedly been battling a prolonged illness.
Family sources claimed that he had stopped eating and was only taking liquids in the weeks leading up to his death, but he ultimately slipped away quietly in his sleep.
Doyin Okupe
He was born on 22nd March, 1952, in Ipetu, Ogun State. He was a Nigerian physician and media expert. He co-founded Royal Cross Medical Centre in Lagos and served as its managing director while also publishing a health‑focused newspaper called Life Mirror.
He was a House of Representatives candidate in 1983 under the NPN and the National Publicity Secretary of the NRC in the 1990s. He served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007), Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan (2012-2015), and Director‑General of Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign under the Labour Party.
He died after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He had been fighting prostate cancer for 16 years and later developed sarcoma in his right shoulder. He was hospitalized in October 2023 and flown to Israel for treatment, but his condition didn’t improve, and he passed away on 7 March 2025 at age 72.
Muhammadu Buhari
He was born on 2nd December, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State. He was a former head of state and two-term civilian president (2015-2023). He joined the Nigerian Army in 1962 and rose to major general. He led the war against the Biafran secession (1967‑1970). He took power in a 1983 coup, ruling Nigeria until 1985 after being ousted by Gen. Tunde Idiagbon.
He founded the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2009, which later merged into the All Progressives Congress (APC). He won the 2015 presidential election and secured re-election in 2019.
He passed away on 13 July, 2025, at a clinic in London, after a brief but intense battle with pneumonia. According to his wife, Aisha Buhari, the former president had been hospitalized for several days—first in ICU, then on a regular ward—and the final three days were especially difficult.
Cornelius Adebayo
He was born on 24 February, 1941, in Igbaja, Ifelodun LGA. He began his career as a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University (then University of Ife) and later headed the English Department at Kwara State College of Technology (now Kwara State Polytechnic).
He served as Governor of Kwara State during the turbulent end of the Second Republic (Oct 1983–Dec 1983). He served as a Senator (1979-1983) elected under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He served as Minister of Communications (2003-2007) under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He was a NADECO stalwart who resisted military rule and was a key figure in Afenifere and the Middle Belt Forum. He passed away after a brief illness. He died in the early hours of Wednesday, 25 June 2025, at age 84, with family confirming he’d been unwell shortly before his death in Abuja.
Senator Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo
He was born on 5 September, 1965, in Ofoni, Sagbama (now Bayelsa State). He was a Nigerian lawyer and served as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. He attended Ebikimiye Primary School, Kpakiama (1976), then Government College Bomadi (1982) and Community Secondary School, Ofoni (WASC 1987).
He earned a Diploma in Community Health from Rivers State College of Health Technology (1989‑1991). He graduated with a B.Sc. in Secretarial Administration from Rivers State University of Science & Technology (1991‑1996). He completed an LL.B. (2002‑2007), was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2009, and later earned an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law (2012) and a Ph.D. in Human Rights & Labour Law (2023).
He passed away after he reportedly collapsed in his Yenagoa office on 11 December 2025 and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead from cardiac arrest.
Siyan Oyeweso
He was born on February 1, 1961, in Ibadan. The Nigerian historian, educator, and university administrator was raised in Ede, Osun State. He attended Obafemi Awolowo University and then the University of Ife, where he earned his B.A. (Hons) in History (2nd Class Upper, 1982), M.A. in History, and Ph.D. in Intellectual History from the same university.
He began his academic career in 1985 as an assistant lecturer at Lagos State University, rising to full professor of history by 2004. He served as an acting provost in Osun State University Postgraduate College (Feb. 2024). He also served as an Executive Director, Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo—a UNESCO Category II institute.
He served as a former director of the UNIOSUN Business School and pioneer provost of the College of Humanities & Culture at UNIOSUN. He served as a Pro‑Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Obafemi Awolowo University (appointed July 2024).
He authored over 150 publications, including books like Eminent Yoruba Muslims, The Royal Institution in Yoruba Tradition, and Journey from Epe. He was a Fellow of the Historical Society of Nigeria and a Life Member of several academic societies. He passed away on December 2, 2025, at age 64 after a brief illness involving postoperative complications from brain tumor surgery.
However, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso was not an active politician when he was alive but he had quality relationship with several APC chieftains which allegedly fast-tracked his appointment as Chairman of Obafemi Awolowo University Governing Council despite being meritious.
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