In a tribute to his predecessor, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, has described former president Muhammadu Buhari as a patriot soldier and statesman.
Tinubu stated this in a tribute following the death of Buhari, (82) on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at a hospital in the United Kingdom.
“President Buhari was to the very core, a patriot, a soldier, a statesman. His legacy of service and sacrifice endures. He served Nigeria with unwavering dedication, first as a military leader… and later as a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023, Tinubu said, adding that “Duty, honour, and a deep commitment to the unity and progress of our nation defined his life.”
According to Tinubu, Buhari “stood firm through the most turbulent times, leading with quiet strength, profound integrity, and an unshakable belief in Nigeria’s potential. He championed discipline in public service, confronted corruption head-on, and placed the country above personal interest at every turn.”
“In this moment of national mourning, I extend my deepest condolences to his beloved wife, Aisha, with whom I have been in constant touch, his children, the entire Buhari family, and all who knew and loved him.
“I also extend my condolences to the government and people of Katsina State, most especially the people and traditional leaders of Daura Emirate. We honour his service. We reflect on his legacy. And we pray for the peaceful repose of his soul.”
Nigeria has declared Tuesday, July 15 a public holiday as a mark of respect to its former leader, with President Tinubu directing that all national flags fly at half-staff across the country for seven days from that day.
“May his life continue to inspire generations of Nigerians to serve with courage, conviction, and selflessness,” President Tinubu added.
Similarly, immediate past vice president of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, 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,” Osinbajo said in a personal statement on Sunday, adding that the former president was “one with whom we had the honour of serving our nation for eight memorable years.”
Buhari was Nigeria’s military leader between January 1984 and August 1985 and was later democratically elected as the country’s President in 2015, becoming the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent (Goodluck Jonathan) since the return of democracy in 1999. He won a second term in 2019 and handed over to Tinubu in 2023.
