In a solemn gathering at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, led an expanded Federal Executive Council (FEC) session to honour the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on July 13, 2025, in a London hospital
The special session, attended by National Assembly leaders, judiciary members, and representatives of Buhari’s family, served as a platform to reflect on the legacy of a leader Tinubu described as “a patriot, a soldier, a statesman” whose life was defined by “duty, honour, and a deep commitment to the unity and progress of our nation.”
In his heartfelt tribute, Tinubu portrayed Buhari as a towering figure whose influence transcended his public roles
. “Today, we gather under a heavy shadow, drawn from the silence that surrounds a departed leader and the immense weight of a life whose absence will be felt for generations,” Tinubu began, setting the tone for a deeply emotional address.
He praised Buhari’s character, noting, “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.”
Tinubu highlighted Buhari’s private virtues, stating, “It was in the quiet and unadorned settings of his private life that his true greatness was revealed: pious without show, just without cruelty, humane without sentimentality, temperate without coldness, and sincere without guile.”
Tinubu emphasized Buhari’s unwavering integrity and discipline, qualities that defined his leadership as military Head of State from 1984 to 1985 and as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
“He stood, always, ramrod straight; unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause and unafraid of the loneliness that often visits those who do what is right, rather than what is popular,” Tinubu said.
He credited Buhari with playing a pivotal role in Nigeria’s democratic progress, recalling their collaboration: “We stood together, he and I. Alongside others drawn from across the political spectrum, regions and tongues, we formed an alliance that enabled Nigeria to experience its first true democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.
Reflecting on Buhari’s personal demeanour, Tinubu noted, “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.”
He also acknowledged Buhari’s humility in retirement, saying, “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.”
Tinubu recognized Buhari’s imperfections but underscored his moral stature: “President Buhari was not a perfect man, no leader is, but he was, in every sense of the word, a good man, a decent man, an honourable man.”
He urged Nigerians to honour Buhari’s legacy through “humility in power, discipline in service, compassion in governance, and fearlessness in the pursuit of justice.”
The president also commended the swift organization of Buhari’s state funeral, expressing gratitude to the Inter-Ministerial Committee led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda.
“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,” Tinubu said.
He reiterated his condolences to Buhari’s widow, Aisha, his children, the Buhari family, and the people of Katsina State, particularly the Daura Emirate, concluding, “Mai Gaskiya, The People’s General, the Farmer President – your duty is done. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus.”
The session, held in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, followed a Third Day prayer in Daura, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, and was part of a series of mourning activities, including a seven-day period of national mourning and a public holiday on July 15, 2025, declared by the Federal Government
