How Tinubu, African Leaders Paid Their Last Respects to Buhari

President Bola Tinubu, alongside several African leaders and dignitaries from across the continent, gathered in Daura, Katsina State, to bid farewell to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was laid to rest following his passing at the age of 82.

The burial ceremony drew a constellation of high-profile mourners, including President Umaru Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine, and former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou. Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Yemi Osinbajo, state governors, former governors, ministers past and present, and top industrialist Aliko Dangote were also in attendance.

President Tinubu received Buhari’s remains at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina, where he arrived from Abuja at 1:42 p.m. The Nigerian Air Force jet carrying the former president’s body landed at 1:51 p.m. A solemn ceremony followed, including a military guard of honour and a slow-march procession by a nine-man pallbearer team drawn from all arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The casket, draped in the national flag, was then placed in a military hearse for the final journey to Daura.

Security was tight in Daura, as thousands of mourners filled every available space in and around Buhari’s country home, eager to pay final respects to the man who ruled Nigeria as both military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and civilian President from 2015 to 2023.

At exactly 5:50 p.m., Buhari’s remains were lowered into the ground in accordance with Islamic rites, marking the end of an era. The solemn moment followed traditional Islamic prayers and full military honours, including a 21-gun salute.

Vice President Shettima, sitting at the graveside with close family members and political associates, wore a visibly sombre expression throughout the ceremony. The funeral was marked by prayers, tributes, and emotional recollections of Buhari’s life and leadership.

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, who had often been one of Buhari’s critics, offered a respectful tribute, saying, “President Buhari should be remembered as a good man… not just by his eight years as President but by the full weight of his contributions to Nigeria.” Similarly, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, described him as “a leader who came, saw, and conquered,” praising his commitment to discipline and nation-building.

Tributes also poured in from former associates, including Buba Galadima, who described Buhari as a humble man who trusted too much and sometimes delegated excessively. Despite that, Galadima said, Buhari’s dedication to law, order, and the poor defined his legacy.

Buhari’s daughter, Noor, expressed her heartbreak in a personal Instagram post: “I’ll always carry your memory with me. I pray that you’re granted the highest place in Jannah.”

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, affirmed that Buhari’s name “is synonymous with integrity,” while former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, described him as “a patriot who stood firm when it was easier to bend.”

Legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, called Buhari a soldier of “spartan discipline” and recounted the former president’s respectful conduct during the 2003 presidential election tribunal. According to Babalola, Buhari’s courtroom behaviour reflected his deep belief in the rule of law.

All Progressives Congress chieftain, Chief Ayiri Emami, said Buhari’s legacy includes his loyalty to democracy and major infrastructure accomplishments such as the Second Niger Bridge and the Warri-Itakpe Rail Line. He praised Buhari for respecting electoral processes, noting that opposition parties won elections under his watch without interference.

Former presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, also spoke on Channels Television, recalling Buhari’s long-standing medical trips to London and the criticism they drew. He defended the late president’s decision, saying Buhari would not have survived without the specialized care available abroad. Adesina noted that Buhari’s modest lifestyle extended to living in the Nigerian High Commission during medical stays in the UK, with much of the cost reportedly covered by friends and well-wishers.

Senator Seriake Dickson of the PDP also offered condolences, acknowledging Buhari’s lifelong service to Nigeria both as a soldier and a statesman, and praying for strength for his family and the people of Katsina State.

From the high halls of African diplomacy to the dusty streets of Daura, Buhari’s final farewell brought together friends and foes, admirers and critics, all united by the weight of his legacy — a legacy that will continue to be debated, honoured, and remembered for generations.