Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has said he regarded the late former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, as his political mentor and a father figure due to his simplicity, integrity, and dedication to serving the nation.
Mr Ndume, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said this in a statement on Sunday to mourn the passing of the late former president.
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“The late President was a man I held in the highest regard — not merely as a statesman, but as a father figure and mentor whose simplicity, integrity, and commitment to national service deeply inspired me. Our bond was one built on mutual respect, sincerity, and fond familiarity,” he said.
The senator also reflected on his cultural connection with the late former president, noting that many who observed their rapport often assumed he was of Kanuri origin due to the playful Fulani-Kanuri banter they regularly exchanged.
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“Those who witnessed our interactions often mistook me for a Kanuri man, as we frequently exchanged playful banter drawn from Fulani-Kanuri cultural traditions,” he added.
Recalling Mr Buhari’s influence on his personal and political growth, the federal lawmaker said the former president played a pivotal role in his life.
“In President Buhari, I have lost not just a leader, but a personal pillar, a man who believed in my potential and encouraged me at critical points in my journey. The last time we met was in his hometown of Daura, where I paid him homage. His warmth, humour, and wise counsel remain etched in my memory,” Mr Ndume said.
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He prayed for the repose of the late leader’s soul.
“May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him eternal rest, and admit him into Jannatul Firdaus. Nigeria has lost a rare patriot; I have lost a father.”
Former President Buhari passed away on Sunday in a London hospital after a prolonged illness. His remains will be flown back to Nigeria today, accompanied by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, as directed by the Presidency.
He’s expected to be buried immediately his body arrives in Nigeria, in accordance with Islamic principles.
Mr Buhari served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023 under the APC. Before the return to democratic rule, he was the military head of state between December 1983 and August 1985, retiring as a major general.
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