It was a sober and solemn moment, yet that of honour and glowing tributes at the expanded Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Thursday, convened in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari who died Sunday in a London hospital.
At the session were President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) cum Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, cabinet members and other top government dignitaries.
Addressing the meeting, Tinubu said Buhari was a leader of austere honour who remained unshaken by the trappings of office.
The president said: “He stood, always, ramrod straight; unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause, and unafraid of the loneliness that often visits those who do what is right, rather than what is popular.”
“His was a quiet courage. A righteousness that never announced itself. His patriotism was lived more in action than in words,” the president said.
“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. His was a life lived in full service to Nigeria, and in fidelity to God,” he further said.
He also recalled the historic political alliance which birthed the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015, and ultimately led to transfer of power to him (Tinubu) after the 2023 general elections on the same party platform.
“We stood together, he and I. Alongside others drawn from across the political spectrum, regions and tongues, we formed an alliance that enabled Nigeria to experience its first true democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.
“When he was sworn in as our party’s first elected President, he led with restraint, governed with dignity, and bore the burdens of leadership without complaint. Even 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.
“Even in death, he maintained the serenity that defined him in life: not a sigh, not a groan, just a quiet submission to the will of God. Such was the man Nigeria has lost. Such was the man for whom our nation now mourns,” he added.
“With all that he had achieved, his most enduring legacy 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,” the president further said.
“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,” said the Nigerian leader.
The president also lauded the Inter-Ministerial Committee and Katsina state Governor Dikko Radda for ensuring a befitting state funeral within 48 hours, describing it as a “profound honour” to lead the burial procession in Daura.
Rounding off his tributes on a divine note, the president said: “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.”
..Akpabio, Abbas take turn
Also speaking, Senate President Akpabio said Buhari chose honour over headlines during his lifetime.
“There are moments in the life of a nation when she must pause, not out of routine, but out of reverence. Today is such a moment, as we gather in solemn remembrance of President Muhammadu Buhari—a man forged in the furnace of battle and tempered in the trials of government, who gave everything he had to a country that asked everything of him,” he said.
Akpabio lauded Buhari’s disciplined, duty-driven leadership, stressing that “President Buhari did not seek headlines, he chose instead to chase honour. Where others sought glory, he sought duty. Whether clad in khaki or in Agbada, through coups, campaigns, criticisms and crises, he never wavered in his belief in the promise of Nigeria.”
“His life reminds us of a truth often forgotten in this noisy age, that greatness is not always loud; that history sometimes preserves its most solemn purpose for those who walk for legacy, not fame.
“Let it be said by generations to come that a man once walked this land with a steady gaze, and an iron sense of duty. His name was Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.
In his tributes, Speaker Abbas described the late Nigerian leader as a mentor and steward of simplicity.
“We gather today in solemn reverence to honour the memory of the man whose life and legacy are deeply woven into the fabric of our republic. President Buhari was no ordinary person in our national journey. He embodied pride, moral clarity, and an unshakable sense of duty.
“At a time when society was seduced by materialism, he chose a life of modest means and meaningful service. He was devoted to farming, steadfast in his Islamic faith, lived not for applause or affluence, but for praise of God, country, and the cause of the nation.
“His words were clear: lead as a servant, never as a master. These simple words have remained my compass. His war against corruption was unrelenting. Known to millions as Mai Gaskiya, the Honest One, he lived a life free from personal scandal. His integrity set a standard that will endure,” he said.
…NGF
Taking his turn, the NGF chair, Governor AbdulRazaq, described the late Buhari as a devoted servant of the Nigerian people.
“We gather to pay tribute to a man whose life was woven into the fabric of our nation—a soldier, a patriot, a statesman, and above all, a devoted servant of the Nigerian people. Across every region of our great nation, his legacies remain visible and impactful.
“On behalf of my colleagues at the Nigerian Governors Forum, I extend our heartfelt condolences to President Tinubu, the government and people of Nigeria, and the family of our late former president, Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.
…HoS
Also speaking, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, commended the deceased’s reformist spirit and legacy of integrity.
“President Muhammadu Buhari was a towering figure in Nigeria’s national life, an embodiment of discipline, integrity, and unflinching dedication to the service of our country. His leadership journey, first as military head of state and later as president, sparked critical moments in our history.
“Under his stewardship, the Nigerian Civil Service witnessed a revival…His administration championed the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plans, reflecting his belief in a capable and ethical public service. His emphasis on merit and the rule of law inspired a culture shift that continues to shape reform efforts today.
“I had the privilege of being appointed by the late former president as a federal permanent secretary. His was a leadership marked by simplicity, courage, and rare moral clarity—values that remain instructive for all in government today,” she said.
…UNIMAID named after Buhari
And in recognition of the worthy ideals of his late predecessor, the president, at the close of the session announced that the University of the Maduguri, Borno state, be named after the late president.
“In honour of his memory, with this special session of the Federal Executive Council expanded, we hereby adopt the renaming and the naming of University of Maiduguri with a new name as Muhammadu Buhari University,” the president said.
Prayers were offered by dignitaries for the repose of the soul of the departed president.
Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin said the Muslim prayer, while Imo state Governor and Chairman Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma, offered the Christian prayer.
Moving the vote of thanks on behalf of the family, Yusuf, Buhari’s only son, said: “On behalf of the entire family, of the eight of us who are here today, I wish to extend our deepest gratitude.
“He peacefully passed on, which was Sunday 13th of July 2025. It has shown that he was regarded far more than a politician but regarded as a father figure.
“To all members of the Federal Executive Council for the care and befitting state burial accorded to our late father, we appreciate you all.
“I also wish to thank the Attorney General of the Federation and members of the judiciary, the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian High Commission in London, the Governors of Katsina and Borno States, and all his colleagues for identifying and standing firmly with us during this difficult period.
“Let me specially and specifically acknowledge the Chief of Defense Staff, the Service Chiefs, Heads of Security and Law Enforcement Agencies, as well as all members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, our late father’s first and primary constituency, for the aspirate decorum, solidarity, and the befitting military burial given to our late father.”
Yusuf concluded with a heartfelt message: “We thank all members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, political associates, friends, family members, the press, and indeed all Nigerians at home and in diaspora for the support and solidarity.”
He broke down at this point: “Thank you, daddy. Thank you, daddy. Thank you, daddy. May Allah continue to bless us all and guide us,” he said.