Tributes pour in for former President Muhammadu Buhari

Tributes have continued to pour in for former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on Sunday afternoon at the age of 82.

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Mr Buhari served as Nigerian president from 2015 to 2023, having previously ruled the country as a military head of state from January 1984 to August 1985.

He died after a prolonged illness in a London hospital.

The former president’s death on Sunday prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow presidents and political leaders all over the country.

Jonathan, Obasanjo, IBB pay tributes

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was Mr Buhari’s predecessor, expressed sadness on the passing of the former Nigerian leader, describing him as a courageous leader who served the nation with character and a sense of patriotism.

“In his passing, Nigeria has lost one of its foremost leaders, and I have lost a respected colleague and elder,” Mr Jonathan said, adding that the late president was deeply admired across the strata of society for his decency, integrity and exemplary life of service.

“As a leader, he was selfless in his commitment to his duty and served the country with character and a deep sense of patriotism. He will be remembered as a courageous leader, a disciplined officer, and a committed public servant who made considerable contributions towards the peace and progress of our dear nation.”

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Similarly, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo described Mr Buhari as a patriot who tried his best to give the country the needed progress and development. “It is with a heavy heart that I received the news of the passing of a colleague, a comrade, a cool patriot and a soldier, General Muhammadu Buhari. He played his role as a soldier, as an administrator and a statesman among numerous obligations he performed,” Mr Obasanjo said.

In his message, Nigeria’s former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, said Mr Buhari was his brother, coursemate, and a fellow soldier in the journey of nationhood. “Through the years, we shared trenches and trials, dreams and disappointments, victories and moments of reflection. Our bond was forged not only by military training, but by a shared commitment to the ideals of service, discipline, and love for country.”

“Beyond the uniform and the public glare, I knew him as a deeply spiritual man, a man who found solace in faith, and who carried himself with the humility of someone who believed in a higher calling,” said Mr Babangida, who succeeded Mr Buhari as military ruler following a coup in 1985.

Osinbajo, Atiku mourn

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with whom Mr Buhari served the nation for eight years, said, “Nigeria has lost a true patriot-a man whose life was marked by unyielding devotion to the nation he loved.”

“President Buhari’s legacy will endure as a testament to the nobility of public service, defined by honesty, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to the public good,” Mr Osinbajo said.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar simply described Mr Buhari as a man whose life was defined by “unflinching patriotism, stoic discipline, and a lifelong commitment to the sovereignty and unity of our great nation.”

Sharing pictures from his last visit to Mr Buhari in Kaduna, Atiku said, “Buhari was not just a former Head of State, he was a symbol of Nigeria’s resilience.

“From the battlefield to the corridors of power, he served with the kind of austere conviction and firm belief in duty that marked him as a soldier of principle and a leader of formidable will,” Atiku said.

In a condolence message, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudden Abbas, described Mr Buhari as one of the most patriotic Nigerians to have ever lived.

“Buhari carved a niche for himself as an incorruptible leader and a man of integrity, with an unflinching commitment to nation-building. His life was also defined by uncommon simplicity,” Mr Abbas said. “He was disciplined, patriotic, modest and upright. He served the nation most of his life in different capacities; only a few Nigerians have the privilege to have so served their country.”

Governors mourn

The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, said Nigeria has lost a patriot in the passing of Mr Buhari. “Katsina has lost its most illustrious son, and I have lost a father figure whose footsteps I have endeavoured to follow,” Mr Radda said.

“From his early days as a military leader to his transformative presidency, President Buhari never forgot his roots. He remained connected to the soil of Katsina and the hearts of its people. His passing leaves an irreplaceable void in our collective consciousness,” the governor stated.

“As we mourn this irreparable loss, we must also celebrate a life well-lived in service to humanity. President Buhari’s legacy of putting people first will continue to inspire generations of leaders,” Mr Radda said as he eulogised the late leader.

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Governor Alex Otti of Abia also expressed sadness over the death of Mr Buhari, describing his death as a national loss. He urged the family and close associates of the deceased to bear the loss with courage and faith, and prayed to God to grant his soul eternal repose.

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, also commiserated with former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, surviving children and immediate family who lost more than “just a father and confidant, but an embodiment of integrity who brought so much difference to governance in Nigeria.”

“Throughout his lifetime, President Buhari was a watchword for integrity, inspiring honesty and selfless service in public service. Nigeria has lost one of its finest, and I join in mourning a leader whose contributions to nation building are unquantifiable,” Mr Adeleke said.

Okonjo-Iweala, Adesina mourn.

In the same vein, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said she appreciated the support Mr Buhari gave her in her current position during his time in office. “I am so very sad. May the Soul of HE Muhammadu Buhari rest in perfect peace. My deepest condolences to the entire Buhari family and his close aides and associates,” she wrote on X.

Like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, the outgoing President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, who was endorsed for the position by Mr Buhari, paid tribute to the late Nigerian leader.

He wrote: “I am greatly saddened by the passing of Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari. Thank you for your leadership, patriotism and selfless service to Nigeria. Thank you for your love and support for me. May God comfort your dear wife and family. May your soul rest in peace.”

NGF

“We ask Allah, who gives and takes life, to ease the account of his servant, Buhari, widen and lighten up his grave, and admit him to al-jannah Firdaus,” said Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, who doubles as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

He described Mr Buhari’s death as a significant depletion in the ranks of Africa’s all-time great men. “He would be remembered for his humility, strategic patience, and modest lifestyle,” he said.