By Halima Alfa
The passing of Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the London clinic marked the end of an era in Nigeria’s politics. As a former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Buhari left an indelible mark on the nation’s history. His life was a testament to unwavering conviction, dedication to public service, and a relentless pursuit of progress. This tribute celebrates his achievements, contributions to Nigeria and its people, and humanity in general.
Essentially, being Baba’s political daughter, I will be remiss to not add my voice to the outpouring of tributes that followed last week’s passing of a leader, who stood tall and proud fighting corruption, and speaking loud for the rights of the people; a man that gave his all, and let the nation’s hope stand tall in his heart.
Born in Daura, Katsina state, 82 years ago, General Buhari (Baba Buhari, as we fondly call him) lived a lovely life that traversed intimate family involvements, an eventful military career and a remarkable political trajectory that admits significant milestones of successes and challenges. Buhari’s rise to power began when he served as the country’s head of state from 1983 to 1985, and in between 2002 – 2003, foraying into mainstream democratic politics with a presidency bid on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and eventually winning Nigeria’s presidency in 2015.
My remarkable engagements with Baba were forged through the APP/ANPP alliance, and involved many memorable and interesting moments, covering both personal and national scenarios. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness, during one of the presidential election campaign rallies in Aba, Abia state when the campaign podium collapsed while we were all standing together with Baba on it. What he said in reaction, both resonating his deep sense of humour and humanness, all intended to reassure everyone of safety, share in the grief of people who suffered from the incident, stands him out as a good human being.
Finally, I cannot completely end my tribute to the memory of the late General Muhammadu Buhari without sending my sincere appreciation and thanks to our present President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for bearing the burden of leadership at this time of our collective national grief with the same simplicity and dignity like his late friend, ally and predecessor, General Buhari and toeing the leadership line he left behind and showing all that leadership is not about personal comfort but about sacrifice. I commend the courage of President Tinubu in fighting corruption and repositioning the economy of the country just like Buhari did.
Sir, your policies in agriculture, infrastructural renewal and energy reforms are today shaping the nation’s development trajectory. You promised during the campaign for the 2023 presidential election that you would continue, if elected, from where President Buhari stopped and you did not disappoint because your vision and that of our late president was clear when you coalesced to form the now ruling APC; a Nigeria that can feed itself, build its roads, power its homes and educate its children.
By continuing with the Buhari development template and goals you have shown that you can be trusted. We all can see you working tirelessly everyday in order to fulfil that dream. Sir, we take consolation that even though Buhari is no longer with us in body, we know that he will be very proud of you wherever he is right now. We share in your grief because personally we acknowledge that you have lost a great political friend, ally and a father figure In General Buhari; a man who taught us that integrity is not negotiable. We shall always remember your unwavering stand and contributions towards making the state burial for the late President Buhari a success.
For many of your opponents and critics who daily since the death of Buhari are saying that you are using the burial to score a cheap political goal and to achieve cheap political gains, I say to them sir, “a pessimist is a well informed optimist”. This is because the success of the state burial affirmed your eternal respect for your late predecessor who to you was a moral compass for our generation and that to come. He was a man whose name is synonymous with honesty and deserved the respect of our nation.
I want to also use the medium of this tribute to thank President Tinubu for renaming the University of Maiduguri Borno state after Muhammadu Buhari. The late former president fought till the last days of his presidency to make the North-east geopolitical zone a safer and peaceful place to live in. He confronted head-on the dreaded monster of insurgency called the Boko Haram sect who represented the greatest axis of evil that has confronted our nation.
General Buhari deserved this singular honour for also investing heavily in the education sector because of his fervent believe that it is the greatest tool for the advancement of man and making the knowledge economy entrenched in our nation. This gesture of yours sir is deeply respectful to the former late president and it goes only to show that our nation will always remember him with dignity and not done to score cheap political goals. You showed leadership by not trivialising this period of national mourning just to generate media attention. Your relationship with Buhari was grounded in mutual respect and shared democratic ideals and commitment to national development. Your participation in the memorial events reflects statesmanship and not opportunities.
I want to also use the opportunity of this tribute to sympathise with my governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi state, and his political father figure who is also my leader, the former governor of Kogi state, the white lion Yahaya Bello, for this irreparable loss. General Buhari played a critical role to the growth and development of Kogi state by his guidance, leadership and advise to our young leaders. Sir, I wish he were still alive to see you implement all your visionary and strategic plans and moving the state forward by its growth and development in all its physicality. As you both mourn the passage of Buhari, we may the Almighty Allah give you both the wisdom to bear this great loss.
Personally, it is a great loss because Buhari during his life time was so familiar with the pain of our country than with compassion though he was intrinsically compassionate by living for others. I pray for the repose of his soul and for Gods comfort for his family and the entire nation. Buhari was a great leader who dedicated his life to the service of our beloved nation as chronicled in the book written by Adamu Kyuka Usman which was guided, launched and endorsed by him titled ‘Muhammadu Buhari: The spirit of man” long before his death. I want his family to take consolation in the fact that he served the country with unwavering commitment, integrity, convictions and was a staunch advocate for justice and good governance. I recall his dedication to the common good and his unwavering belief in the potential of all Nigerians.
To his beloved wife, Her Excellency Hajiya Aisha Buhari, his children, grandchildren and the entire family, I extend my heartfelt condolences. May you find solace in the outpouring of love and support from a grateful nation. Please know that your grief is shared by all of us.
I say good bye to a leader, a father and a dear friend and an exceptional human being whose significance as a statesman and humanitarian impacted our lives in more ways than most cared to know.
President Buhari’s memory shall live on; he will be remembered for his solidarity with the talakawa, his abiding grace and simplicity, his uncanny sense of humour and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity. May his noble soul rest in peace.
Rest now, dear Baba Buhari, your work is done. May your soul find peace, beneath the setting sun and may your memory remain, a blessing to us all; a leader, a statesman, who gave his all.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Sky Daily
