Buhari served with courage, gave all he had to Nigeria – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid another glowing tribute to late President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the former Nigerian leader gave everything he had to Nigeria.

Speaking at the first year remembrance of Buhari,  the president, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, noted that from his years as a military leader to his transformation into a democrat and a determined defender of constitutional order, the late leader embodied the very spirit of change and nation-building.

At the gathering were former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, former  First Lady, Aisha Buhari, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; former national chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu and Umar Ganduje; and a couple of governors.

They include among others;  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi)  and Jigawa state Governor Namadi.

Also at the event were former and serving ministers as well as former service chiefs.

…Tinubu’s remarks

Addressing the gathering, President Tinubu said: “When he (Buhari) laid down the burden of leadership, and through all the years of his retirement, and in his final months, when illness had taken the strength from his body, the trust of ordinary Nigerians did not depart from him. It followed him into private life. It sat with him in Daura. It waited outside his door.”

The president further said:  “He gave everything he had to this country, and he gave it without reservation. He served with courage. He served with conviction and with a patriotism that never asked what the nation could return to him.

“Few men are permitted two lives in the service of one country. He was given that rare privilege and he used it well.

“I want to say something about him that we do not say often enough. Power ordinarily exhausts the affection of the governed. That is the common course of office, and every one of us who has carried it understands that course.

“Such constancy, surviving the hallway of public office and the long quiet that comes after it, is the sturdiest inheritance any leader can leave a nation. It is not given; it is earned. And it is earned only through a lifetime of agreement between what a man says and what a man is.

“Today, we gather to celebrate his memory and to honour a man of real character, a leader who taught by the example of his own life and who departed, leaving behind an inheritance that continues to instruct us.

“We honour him in death as we honoured him in life, and we do so without embellishment because his life required none.

“He had no appetite for flattery when he was among us, and he will have none for it now.”

He further said: “To the immediate family, to our dear Mrs Aisha Buhari, and to the younger Buharis, I know that you have passed through a season of profound grief. Please be assured that the nation and this administration stand with you now and in all the years to come. We will continue to hold you up in our prayers, trusting that Almighty Allah will comfort you, sustain you, and shield you from all harm.

“Our duty, as his friends, as his mentees, and as his associates, is to carry forward the inheritance he left us: honesty, simplicity, and self-discipline.

“I have no doubt that had this remembrance been thrown open to all who wished to attend, this venue would have overflowed, and the streets beyond it would have overflowed as well. Such was the love and regard Nigerians held for President Buhari, and such is the love they hold for him still.”

…Tinubu’s support for Buhari reciprocated – Gowon

Also speaking, former Head of State, General Gowon, recalled how political alliance between the late Buhari and Tinubu, his successor, was reciprocated, leading to emergence of the two political figures as President of Nigeria.

He said as Buhari was preparing to leave office, he “gave his full support to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed him as President.”

Gowon also recalled how he personally reached out to late Buhari at a time he could not afford to pay school fees of his children in the United Kingdom.

“President Buhari cared for people. During his time in office, he worked for all Nigerians, not just for the North. Some people believed he governed only for the North, but that was not the case. He ensured that every state and every part of the country was treated fairly and equally. That remains to his credit.

“My relationship with General Buhari goes back many years. We served together as soldiers, and all of us did our best to keep this country united. I knew him as a gallant soldier and as a man who earned respect.

“Later, after our retirement from the military, General Buhari decided to go into politics. He did his best to seek political leadership that would support his ambition to become President. He contested several times but was unsuccessful.

“However, when he joined hands with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they formed a strong political alliance. The support he received from Asiwaju Tinubu certainly helped him to emerge as President. Their partnership remained strong throughout his administration.

“As President, Buhari prepared to leave office; he gave his full support to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed him as President. I remember clearly how committed President Buhari was to ensuring that Tinubu received the same support that Tinubu had given him during his own presidential journey.

“This is something for which we must give President Buhari credit. He stood firmly behind President Tinubu so that he could continue serving Nigeria and do his best for the country, just as Buhari himself sought to do,” he said.

Continuing, the former military leader said: “I would like to say that President Buhari did his best for Nigeria. His sense of integrity and fairness knew no bounds.

“On a personal note, while I was in the United Kingdom, I found myself without the means to pay my children’s school fees. I appealed to him, and he ensured that my family received assistance to pay those school fees.”

Describing the late Nigerian leader as one who placed the interests of Nigeria above personal or regional interests, Gowon said: “I am also pleased that the support President Tinubu gave him eventually made it possible for President Tinubu himself to lead Nigeria.”

 …Katsina governor’s remarks

In a message to the event, Katsina state Governor Dikko Umar Radda said the people of the state remained immensely proud of the life he lived, the values he represented and his enduring legacy.

Represented by his deputy, Mallam Faruk Lawal Jobe,  he said: “Throughout his military and civilian careers, he remained steadfast in his commitment to discipline, honesty, accountability, patriotism and national unity.”

“Whether one agreed with all his policies or not, no one could reasonably question his sincerity of purpose, his simplicity of lifestyle and his unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project. He firmly believed that leadership was a sacred trust and that public office exists to serve the people rather than personal interests.

“His administration pursued critical reforms in infrastructure development, agriculture, social investment, anti-corruption, security and institutional strengthening.

“Beyond these tangible achievements, President Buhari gave Nigeria something equally valuable—an enduring example of modesty in leadership. Despite occupying the highest office in the land, he remained accessible, disciplined and remarkably humble. His personal lifestyle consistently reflected the values he preached, earning him admiration both within Nigeria and across the international community.

“His passing one year ago created a vacuum that cannot easily be filled. We lost not only a distinguished statesman but also a father figure whose counsel, wisdom and patriotic guidance were invaluable to our nation,” the governor said.

...Family thanks all

Speaking on behalf of the family, late Buhari’s daughter, Safina Buhari, described the event as a day of reflection, prayer, and gratitude.

“We have been reminded not only of the offices he held, but more importantly of the values he cherished: faith in Allah, integrity, discipline, humility, patriotism, and an unwavering commitment to serving Nigeria with honesty and dedication,” she said.