From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Eminent Nigerians yesterday paid glowing tributes on the late president Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a quintessential leader. They spoke at a special session of the Federal Executive Council presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
The event was packaged to honour Buhari, who was buried on Tuesday in Daura, Katsina State.
At the ceremony, President Tinubu renamed the University of Maiduguri after Buhari.
He said: “The University of Maiduguri will, henceforth, be known as Muhammadu Buhari University.”
Tinubu eulogised Buhari’s legacy, emphasising his remarkable restraint and quiet dignity after leaving office. He painted a portrait of Buhari as a man who shunned the allure of power, preferring a life of quietude over continued influence from behind the scenes.
The President said: “When his tenure ended, he returned to Daura; not to command from the shadows or to hold court, but to live as he always had, never seeking to impose his will but content to let others carry the nation forward.”
He described Buhari as a man, whose strength lay “in the quiet and unadorned settings of his private life,” calling him “pious without show, just without cruelty, humane without sentimentality, temperate without coldness and sincere without guile.”
He recounted Buhari’s unwavering dignity in public and private life, saying, “Steady in posture and spirit, dignified in bearing and commanding by his very presence, his example guided all who encountered him. Still, it endures.”
He noted that Buhari never sought praises or applause, yet commanded the respect of all. “He was first among soldiers in war, first among citizens in peace and first without ambition or flattery in the hearts of his fellow citizens.”
Addressing Buhari’s post-presidential life, Tinubu praised his lack of interference in national affairs. “Those who knew him most intimately understood that the authority of that exalted office never changed him. In the face of pressure, he remained calm. In the face of crisis, he remained resolute. In the face of triumph, he remained modest.
“It was a quiet courage, a righteousness that never announced itself. His patriotism was lived more in action than in words.”
President Tinubu shared his personal sense of honour in leading Buhari’s funeral procession. “On Tuesday, July 15, a grateful nation bid farewell to one of her most illustrious sons. It was a profound honour for me, alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, to lead his funeral procession to Daura and witness his burial in the dignified manner befitting a great and noble leader.”
He also extended gratitude to officials for swiftly organising a befitting state funeral and expressed condolences to the Buhari family, saying, “Our gratitude will remain with President Buhari’s family members who provided him with the comfort and strength to serve our nation in various capacities throughout his over 50 years of public service.”
“In conclusion, Tinubu described Buhari’s life as “a standard to guide us,” urging Nigerians to honour his memory through “humility in power, discipline in service, compassion in governance, and fearlessness in the pursuit of justice.
“Buhari was not a perfect man, no leader is, but he was, in every sense of the word, a good man, a decent man and an honourable man. His was a life lived in full service to Nigeria and in fidelity to God.
“Mai Gaskiya, the People’s General, the farmer president, your duty is done. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. May his life continue to inspire generations of Nigerians to serve with courage, conviction and selflessness. President Buhari, thank you. Nigeria will remember you.”
•Buhari chose honour over headlines –Akpabio
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, also offered a moving tribute, saying, “There are moments in the life of a nation when she must pause, not out of routine, but out of reverence. Today is such a moment, as we gather in solemn remembrance of Muhammadu Buhari, a man forged in the furnace of battle and tempered in the trials of government, who gave everything he had to a country that asked everything of him.”
He lauded Buhari’s disciplined, duty-driven leadership, recalling, “Buhari did not seek headlines, he chose instead to chase honour. Where others sought glory, he sought duty. Whether clad in khaki or in Agbada, through coups, campaigns, criticisms and crises, he never wavered in his belief in the promise of Nigeria.”
He applauded Buhari’s austere disposition and unwavering patriotism, saying, “His life reminds us of a truth often forgotten in this noisy age, that greatness is not always loud; that history sometimes preserves its most solemn purpose for those who walk for legacy, not fame. Let it be said by generations to come that a man once walked this land with a steady gaze, and an iron sense of duty. His name was Muhammadu Buhari.”
• Steward in simplicity – Abass
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, spoke of Buhari’s profound influence on Nigeria’s political future, saying, “We gather today in solemn reverence to honour the memory of the man whose life and legacy are deeply woven into the fabric of our republic. Buhari was no ordinary person in our national journey. He embodied pride, moral clarity and an unshakable sense of duty.”
He recalled Buhari’s humble lifestyle and devotion to service and faith. He said: “At a time when society was seduced by materialism, he chose a life of modest means and meaningful service. He was devoted to farming, steadfast in his Islamic faith, lived not for applause or affluence, but for praise of God, country and the cause of the nation.”
Tajudeen shared personal anecdotes of Buhari’s mentorship, including counsel given upon his election as Speaker. “His words were clear: lead as a servant, never as a master. These simple words have remained my compass. His war against corruption was unrelenting. Known to millions as Mai Gaskiya, the honest one, he lived a life free from personal scandal. His integrity set a standard that will endure,” he stated.
•He left legacy of reform and integrity –Walson-Jack
Head of Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, saluted Buhari’s reformist spirit, describing him as a legacy of reform and integrity.
“President Muhammadu Buhari was a towering figure in Nigeria’s national life, an embodiment of discipline, integrity and unflinching dedication to the service of our country. His leadership journey, first as military head of state, and later, as president, sparked critical moments in our history,” she said.
She highlighted his push for civil service reform, saying, “Under his stewardship, the Nigerian Civil Service witnessed a revival. His administration championed the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plans, reflecting his belief in a capable and ethical public service. His emphasis on merit and the rule of law inspired a culture shift that continues to shape reform efforts today.”
Walson-Jack closed her tribute on a personal note: “I had the privilege of being appointed by the late former president as a federal permanent secretary. His was a leadership marked by simplicity, courage and rare moral clarity; values that remain instructive for all in government today.”
•He was devoted servant of Nigerian people – AbdulRazaq
Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the late Buhari as a devoted servant of the Nigerian people and lauded his enduring legacy.
“We gather to pay tribute to a man, whose life was woven into the fabric of our nation; a soldier, a patriot, a statesman and above all, a devoted servant of the Nigerian people. Across every region of our great nation, his legacies remain visible and impactful.
“On behalf of my colleagues at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, I extend our condolences to President Tinubu, the government and people of Nigeria and the family of our late former president, Muhammadu Buhari.”
AbdulRazaq praised President Tinubu’s gesture in honouring Buhari, calling it “historic and symbolic,” and concluded: “We pray for the peaceful repose of General Buhari. May God grant his family strength and comfort and may the Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
