Nigeria Cannot Forget Buhari: Tinubu, Gowon, Others Pay Tribute AAt First Anniversary Memorial

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ABUJA – President Bola Tinubu and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), on Monday, lauded the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s dedication to the nation.

Tinubu and Gowon made the remarks at the first anniversary remembrance of Buhari held in Abuja.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu said the late president’s popularity endured beyond his years in power because he lived in agreement with the values he professed.

“Power ordinarily exhausts the affection of the governed. Yet, when he 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,” Tinubu said.

According to the president, Buhari’s enduring bond with Nigerians was “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,” he added.

Tinubu described Buhari as a patriot, who devoted his entire life to serving Nigeria, first as a military leader and later as a democratically elected president, saying few individuals had the privilege of serving one nation in two distinct capacities.

“He gave everything he had to this country, and he gave it without reservation, his heart with courage, his heart with conviction, and with a patriotism that never asked what the nation could return to him,” he said.

The president noted that Buhari’s life had become part of Nigeria’s national consciousness, saying the country gathered to remember him not out of obligation but because of the enduring impact of his leadership and character.

“We are gathered here today, one year after the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, because the life he lived is not a life this nation is capable of forgetting,” Tinubu said.

He said Buhari’s legacy extended beyond public office, describing him as “a man of real character” whose honesty, simplicity and self-discipline should continue to inspire current and future leaders.

Tinubu urged Buhari’s associates, mentees and friends to preserve the values he represented. “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,” he said.

The president also expressed solidarity with Buhari’s family, particularly former First Lady Aisha Buhari and their children, assuring them of the administration’s continued support and prayers.

Before delivering the president’s speech, Shettima recounted Tinubu’s concern for Buhari during his final illness in London.

He said the president directed him to visit the former leader in hospital and ensure he lacked nothing.

“When we got wind of the late president’s illness, the president called me and said, ‘Kashim, I have just learned that President Muhammadu Buhari is ill in London. Please kindly proceed to London and find out what is happening and ensure he lacks nothing,” Shettima said.

He described seeing Buhari in the intensive care unit as “a moving moment” and said it was one of the greatest honours of his public service to escort the former president’s body back to Nigeria on behalf of Tinubu after his death.

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), on Monday, said that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari treated every state and every part of the country fairly and equally. Gowon said the late president was committed to serving all Nigerians equally throughout his eight-year administration.

According to Gowon, Buhari’s leadership was driven by fairness and commitment to the welfare of every Nigerian, irrespective of region. “He took care of all people in the country. And his time in office was to take care of all Nigerians, not only the North,” Gowon said.

He dismissed claims that Buhari governed solely in the interest of northern Nigeria, describing such perceptions as inaccurate.

“Some people think that, yes, he was only president for the North. No, he made sure that all the states were treated equally, all parts of the country were treated equally and fairly.

And so this is a credit to him,” he added. Gowon also commended Buhari’s years of public service, saying he gave his best in serving Nigeria and deserved to be remembered for his dedication to the nation.

“I would like to thank all of you for coming to this first year remembrance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s years of service that he did and gave his best to the country,” he said.

Reflecting on Buhari’s emergence as president in 2015, Gowon recalled the tension that surrounded the presidential election while he was attending an African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He said delegates at the meeting were anxious about the possibility of post-election violence in Nigeria but noted that then-President Goodluck Jonathan’s acceptance of the election outcome helped preserve peace.

“At that time, the fear of all the delegates at the AU was so much because they were worried about what would happen to Nigeria. But President Jonathan accepted the result even before it was finally confirmed,” Gowon recalled.

He described Buhari as a gallant soldier whose integrity and fairness were beyond question. “President Buhari did his best for Nigeria. His sense of integrity and fairness knew no bounds”, he said.

Gowon also recalled how Buhari came to his family’s aid when he could not pay his children’s school fees while abroad.

“That was the kind of person he was. He cared for people,” even as he credited Tinubu’s support for Buhari’s eventual emergence as president after several unsuccessful attempts and praised Buhari for standing solidly behind Tinubu’s own presidential ambition.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, who is the chairman of the Central Organising Committee, described the remembrance as a celebration of a leader who devoted his entire life to Nigeria.

“Today is not merely a day of remembrance; it is a day of reflection, gratitude and renewed commitment to the ideals that defined this remarkable life.”

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting the event and said the massive turnout reflected the respect Buhari commanded across Nigeria. Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, said Buhari remained personally committed to restoring peace in the North-East throughout his administration.

“He remained steadfast in building peaceful coexistence and was genuinely concerned about the welfare of Nigerians, especially the people of Borno and the North-East. He believed leadership was a trust to be discharged with sincerity as dictated by Allah.”

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, described Buhari as a disciplined leader who confronted enormous national challenges.

“Happy Nigerians attest to his discipline and integrity. He deeply believed in the unity of Nigeria and promoted inclusivity.” He urged Nigerians to pursue Buhari’s vision of a self-reliant and prosperous nation.

Former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong described Buhari as a principled leader, adding that peace and security remained topmost on his agenda. Lalong said history would continue to remember Buhari for his anti-corruption campaign and contributions to national development.

Former Minister of Information, Malam Lai Mohammed, chronicled Buhari’s long journey from soldier to military ruler, Petroleum Trust Fund chairman, presidential candidate and twoterm civilian president. “Only a few Nigerians could match his public service record.”

According to him, Buhari’s greatest attributes were humility, honesty and compassion.

Above all, Buhari was a true humanist, a leader who was empathetic. I lost a mentor, a pillar and a father figure.” He announced plans to institute an annual lecture on Buhari’s anti-corruption philosophy, integrity and patriotism to inspire future generations.

Representing Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State, Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal Jobe said the late president’s greatest legacy was integrity in public service.

“The greatest tribute we can pay President Buhari is to embrace integrity over expediency, service over self-interest, justice over favouritism and national unity over division.” He said Katsina State would continue promoting the values Buhari stood for through accountability, agriculture, education, youth empowerment and responsible governance.