Nigeria stood still, some in disbelief, as the body of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, was lowered into the earth, his final resting place in his compound at Daura, his hometown, on Tuesday, July 15.
A military motorcade moved his remains from the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina to the ancient city, where thousands lined the streets.
President Bola Tinubu, Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaru Sissoco Embaló, Niger Republic’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine, and former Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou all joined the solemn rites.
Also present were Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Yemi Osinbajo, governors, ex-governors, ministers, and dignitaries like Aliko Dangote.
Final Salute to an Enduring Figure
At exactly 5:50 p.m., Buhari’s body was lowered into the earth. Prayers echoed across Daura, as clerics performed Islamic rites beside a full military honour guard.
The casket, draped in the Nigerian flag, arrived at 4:25 p.m. in a hearse flanked by military pallbearers.
A solemn hymn, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” played as the casket passed through a 96-man military guard. A 21-gun salute followed.
Vice President Shettima sat close to the grave, his eyes cast low. Around him, a sea of mourners wept and watched in silence.
An inter-ministerial committee, led by SGF George Akume, had been hurriedly put together by the federal government, tasked with an urgent and national assignment to deliver a dignified state funeral.
Buhari is one of only two Nigerian leaders to have been head of state twice; first as a former military dictator, and then as an elected president – a position he attempted four times before clinching it.
Tributes from All Walks of Life
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, said Buhari “should be remembered as a good man,” adding that “we shouldn’t focus only on his eight years of being President.”
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, called Buhari “a leader who came, saw, and conquered.” He praised the ex-president’s patriotism, discipline, and respect for traditional institutions.
From the legal community, Aare Afe Babalola described Buhari as “a soldier of spartan discipline” whose belief in justice stood out during the 2003 election tribunal.
“He was always the first in court and the last to leave,” Babalola wrote. “He submitted himself to scrutiny with patience and dignity.”
Buba Galadima, Buhari’s former ally, said “his greatest legacy is his humility and love for the poor,” although he admitted “he delegated power to a fault.”
Ali Pantami, former Minister of Communication, declared: “His name is synonymous with integrity. I never doubted it in 25 years of knowing him.”
APC chieftain, Chief Ayiri Emami, recalled Buhari’s contributions to oil infrastructure and rail lines. “He upheld the rule of law and built the Second Niger Bridge. He stood firm,” he said.
The Man Beyond Power
Buhari’s daughter, Noor, shared a deeply personal message: “I’ll always carry your memory with me. I pray your soul rests in eternal peace, Daddy.”
Former SGF Boss Mustapha said Buhari “stood firm when it was easier to bend.” According to him, Buhari “believed in service to a cause greater than self.”
He added: “To love Nigeria is not a slogan. It is a lifelong commitment.”
Senator Seriake Dickson said the late president “clearly did his best and has returned to his Creator.” He called Buhari “a patriot of the rarest breed.”
“He Could Have Died Earlier” — Adesina on Buhari’s Health
Femi Adesina, Buhari’s former spokesperson, said his boss “could have long been dead if he relied on Nigerian hospitals.”
He added: “You have to be alive to change things. He always had his medicals in London—even before he became president.”
On who paid the bills, Adesina said: “I doubt if he paid those bills himself. His friends like Dangote and Abdulsalami always came through.”
He added: “He did not own a house in London. He lived in the high commissioner’s residence during that long medical leave.”
Adesina also addressed past criticisms about Buhari’s children attending elite schools. “He told me, ‘It’s my friends that pay it.’”
To Adesina, Buhari was “a man of goodwill” who lived simply and leaned heavily on long-standing relationships rather than personal wealth.
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