President Hails Predecessor’s Integrity and Legacy at Special FEC Session
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday led members of the Federal Executive Council in a solemn tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, during a special session held in his honour at the State House, Abuja.
Speaking with deep emotion and reverence, President Tinubu described Buhari as “a good man, a decent man, an honourable man,” whose life embodied patriotism, integrity, and unwavering dedication to Nigeria.
“We gather under a heavy shadow,” Tinubu began, “to honour a man whose presence once commanded this very room, whose voice once summoned the best in us, and whose convictions never bowed, even to the strongest winds of public opinion.”
Reflecting on Buhari’s journey from military service to democratic leadership, Tinubu praised the late president’s austere lifestyle and unshakable principles.
“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,” the president said, adding that Buhari’s private humility magnified his public discipline and moral force.
Tinubu recounted the late president’s legacy from his days in the military, to his time as Military Head of State, Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, and later as a two-term democratically elected president.
“His most enduring legacy,” Tinubu noted, “would be carved in democracy. In a time when many had lost hope that change was possible, Muhammadu Buhari put his faith in the people of this country.”
Recalling their political alliance that led to Nigeria’s first true democratic transfer of power in 2015, Tinubu said Buhari governed “with restraint, with dignity, and bore the burdens of leadership without complaint.”
Despite holding the highest office, Tinubu noted that Buhari remained unchanged. “In the face of pressure, he remained calm. In the face of crisis, he remained resolute. In the face of triumph, he remained modest. Most remarkably, he retained his jovial spirit.”
The President revealed that it was a “profound honour” to lead the funeral procession to Daura, Buhari’s hometown, alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday, July 15, describing the burial as “dignified” and befitting of “a great and noble leader.”
Tinubu extended appreciation to the Inter-Ministerial Committee, led by SGF George Akume and Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, for organising a State Funeral within 48 hours of Buhari’s passing.
He also expressed his condolences to the late president’s widow, Hajia Aisha Buhari, their children, the people of Katsina State, and Nigerians at large.
Concluding the tribute, Tinubu prayed: “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.”
Buhari died on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 82. His death has sparked a wave of national mourning across Nigeria.