From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
In a moving tribute at a special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu celebrated the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacy, emphasising his remarkable restraint and quiet dignity after leaving office.
Speaking to government officials, family members, and dignitaries gathered to honour Nigeria’s former Head of State and President, Tinubu painted a portrait of Buhari as a man who shunned power’s allure, preferring a life of quietude over continued influence from behind the scenes.
“When his tenure ended, he returned to Daura; not to command from the shadows or to hold court,” President Tinubu declared, “but to live as he always had, never seeking to impose his will but content to let others carry the nation forward.”
Tinubu 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.”
The President recounted Buhari’s unwavering dignity in public and private life. “Steady in posture and spirit, dignified in bearing, and commanding by his very presence, his example guided all who encountered him. Still, it endures.”
Tinubu noted that Buhari never sought praise 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,” he said. “In the face of pressure, he remained calm. In the face of crisis, he remained resolute. In the face of triumph, he remained modest.”
Tinubu underlined, “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 at leading the late President’s funeral procession. “On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 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 heartfelt 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.”
He added: “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… 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.”
The post Tinubu hails Buhari’s humility: ‘He returned to Daura, content to let others lead’ appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
