President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday led a solemn special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in honour of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as “a good man, a decent man, an honourable man whose life was lived in full service to Nigeria and in fidelity to God.”
The session, held at the State House, Abuja, drew ministers and top government officials who joined Tinubu in mourning the former Head of State and former President, laid to rest on Tuesday in Daura, Katsina State.
“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. “We meet 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. President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, former Head of State and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has gone to rest.”
The President reflected on Buhari’s legacy as a soldier, a statesman, and a symbol of integrity.
“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. Yet 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 highlighted Buhari’s dignified leadership style:
“To his peers, he was respectful and without pretence. To those who served under him, he was kind without condescension. And to those whom he loved most intimately, he was unfailingly tender, loyal, and good. His life was a rebuke to vice and a refuge for virtue.”
Even in death, Tinubu noted, Buhari’s serenity was remarkable.
“Such was the man Nigeria has lost. Such was the man for whom our nation now mourns.”
He recounted Buhari’s career, from his military service and stewardship as Head of State to his democratic achievements as a two-term civilian president.
“Born before independence, he became a young soldier in the struggle to keep our nation whole… From the battlefield to the corridors of power, he remained faithful to the task. He governed the North-Eastern State, chaired the Petroleum Trust Fund with Spartan rigour, and, most importantly, carved his most enduring legacy in democracy.”
Tinubu spoke of their shared political journey that led to Nigeria’s historic transition of power in 2015:
“We stood together, he and I. Alongside others drawn from across the political spectrum, we formed an alliance that enabled Nigeria to experience its first true democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.”
He praised Buhari’s humility in retirement:
“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.”
“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 record will be debated, as all legacies are, but the character he brought to public life, the moral force he carried, the incorruptible standard he represented, will not be forgotten.”
Tinubu urged Nigerians to honour Buhari by emulating his virtues:
“Let us honour him not only with words, but with humility in power, discipline in service, compassion in governance, and fearlessness in the pursuit of justice.”
He also thanked the Inter‑Ministerial Committee, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, for organising a state funeral within 48 hours.
Extending condolences, Tinubu said:
“In this period of national mourning, I once again extend my heartfelt condolences to Hajia Aisha Buhari, her children, the entire Buhari family, the government and people of Katsina State, and all who knew and loved him. 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.”
Concluding the tribute, Tinubu prayed:
“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.”
