Muhammadu Buhari has passed on to the great beyond, the land of no return, the inevitable destination, and the home of reckoning for all. It IS a destination where we come from with bare hands, and will depart with another set of absolutely bare hands.
Muhammadu Buhari has left this world at a time when it was least expected, having survived a most troubling period of ill-health in the heyday of his first tenure as democratically elected President. That calamitous experience that befell him inordinately shaped the rest of his tenure as President of the federal republic. Buhari was one of the very few in history who has an unhinged and occult kind of followership where millions of people see him as an indefatigable and unblemished character. As IBB put it in his tribute to Buhari, “Buhari serves as a moral compass to many.”
Buhari undoubtedly compares to legends like Mandela, Gandhi, pop icon Michael Jackson, and the like, who have a huge worldwide following that will always love, adore, cherish, and worship them till the end of time.
In Nigeria, Buhari had the largest and most undiluted support base that could rival anyone’s in the world – a population of 12 million people ready and ever willing to support him, spanning over more than 2 decades. Buhari was an unbelievable phenomenon, and whether one hates him or loves him, in Nigeria’s political history of leadership and governance, his following has been the largest, and his legacies are among the most salient. Most recently, when Dr. Dikko Radda, the Katsina state governor, hosted Katsina state’s APC stakeholders’ summit, Autan Rarara aka Dan Soja sang a most melodious song that moved Baba Buhari to hand over some money to the singer, something he had never done. The other musician who moved Buhari to dance was at Ibadan in 2019, where he did the ‘shakushaku’ dance.
When Buhari passed away, one could hear how shaken Dr. Radda was, his tears of grief being shielded by the reporter’s mic on BBC Hausa, as he announced that Baba Buhari was to be buried in Daura, his hometown in Katsina state. Dr. Radda was speaking from London, where he had gone to visit Buhari and see for himself how the late statesman was recuperating. Buhari died 13th of July, 2025, after he had been discharged from the hospital where he was receiving treatment. He started having fresh complications from where he was resident, and he was taken to a nearby clinic, where he was later pronounced dead.
Dikko Radda was with the late President’s family at the time, sharing in their loss and grief. In a brief message of tribute, the Katsina State governor expressed deep grief over the passing of the former President following a prolonged illness.
“Today, Nigeria has lost a patriot, Katsina has lost its most illustrious son, and I have lost a father figure whose footsteps I have endeavoured to follow,” Governor Radda said. Dr. Radda added, “Former President Buhari, who served Nigeria with distinction as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985, and later as democratically elected President in 2015 and 2023, represented the very best of Katsina’s values of integrity, service, and unwavering commitment to the masses. President Buhari was not just a leader; he was the embodiment of the common man’s aspirations. His people-oriented programs and genuine love for the masses defined his leadership philosophy.”
The Governor noted that President Buhari’s legacy transcends political affiliations, describing him as a leader who consistently championed the cause of ordinary Nigerians throughout his distinguished career. From his early days as a military leader to his transformative presidency, President Buhari never forgot his roots.
He remained connected to the soil of Katsina and the hearts of its people. His passing leaves an irreplaceable void in our collective consciousness,” the governor stated. “As we mourn this irreplaceable loss, we must also celebrate a life well-lived in service to humanity. President Buhari’s legacy of putting people first will continue to inspire generations of leaders,” the Governor concluded. Dr. Radda is in Katsina, working hand in hand with federal government officials to ensure that the late President’s interment and burial are done according to Islamic rites, while also honouring him with all the privileges and honour that are befitting of the burial of a former Nigerian President.
Dr. Radda has been very close to Buhari, honouring him every step of the way, keeping him busy with one state function after the other, escorting him home to Daura from the Katsina metropolis after every activity. You could visibly see the respect Radda had for the late general, and the love Buhari had for Radda, proudly accepting every invite from Radda, and participating in all events and programmes.
Dr. Radda and former President Buhari’s activities in the last 4 to 5 months, especially those relating to the APC stakeholders’ events, have put to bed the rumours and insinuations that Buhari was leading politicians to the coalition. They were hobnobbing of their own volition while trying hard to hoodwink Nigerians into believing Buhari was with them. Buhari had reaffirmed his commitment to the APC and President Tinubu in several statements issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu.
Dr. Dikko Radda, in a recent interview on Channels TV, ‘blow-dried’ the coalition group, tasking them to define their mission, as to whether they were going to reverse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies or not.
He was quite confident and effusive in the interview, tagging the politicians as deceitful, since they didn’t have better alternatives to what the government is doing today. He urged them to stop pretending and trying to deceive Nigerians. The Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, who was in London with President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on the president’s directive, condoled with the family of late Buhari, and also expedited documentation necessary to have Buhari’s remains back in Nigeria, for a proper presidential burial.
Shettima described Buhari’s life as the ‘archetypal public servant’, whose dedication, integrity, and commitment to the nation should inspire future leaders and Nigerians generally. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar described Buhari as the most trustworthy person he has ever met, and who is known to never betray anyone’s trust.
He lamented that late Buhari’s officers betrayed his trust and mismanaged their offices. Gen. IBB described him as deeply patriotic and fiercely loyal to Nigeria, and said that he has never once doubted Buhari’s sincerity and patriotism. Former President Jonathan eulogised Buhari’s patriotism, courage, and discipline. His life reflected decency, integrity, and exemplary service.
