A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi, on Friday, hosted the 40th day Fidau prayers for the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Speaking at the event, Showunmi urged Nigerian leaders to shun greed and personal aggrandisement, stressing that the nation’s resources should be deployed to improve the lives of citizens.
“It is high time our leaders live minimally, shun greed, and be committed to serving the people just like the late former leader, Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.
Showunmi explained that he organised the prayer in memory of the late president’s disciplined and simple lifestyle, noting that Buhari refrained from interfering in national affairs after leaving office.
“This is in a little way to encourage leaders to live right knowing that people are watching. I observed how minimally Buhari lived and how sacrificially he maintained a less-than-flamboyant life.
“I observed how disciplined he went about his activities while on earth and I complete our mourning of him today with a 40th-day prayer in Abeokuta where I come from and where he also lived in his early days at Alamala barracks and Katsina where he is from,” he said.
Showunmi added that prayers follow those who serve with sincerity, urging leaders to emulate good examples and avoid bad ones.
“Hopefully, we can inspire ourselves and future leaders that prayers follow those who have tried their best. I believe that we have a duty to look at the life of leaders or anybody around us. And if we find good things in them, we should try to emulate them. And if we see things that are not worthy, we should try to avoid them,” he said.
The PDP chieftain also prayed for continued love, cooperation, and unity between the North and South, particularly between the Yorubas and northerners.
The Fidau, held at Keesi Central Mosque, Abeokuta, was led by the Chief Imam, Sheikh Akeem Olorunisola, who urged Nigerians to emulate Buhari’s good deeds.
“Everyone will give an account at the end of their lives. Nigerians must take lessons from the disciplined life of the late president,” the cleric said.
In his lecture, guest speaker Muhammad Robiu Adekolu emphasised the importance of living with the fear of God, pointing out Buhari’s modest lifestyle while in office.
“Buhari lived his life in complete fear of God and held the office of the president without owning a private jet or university like other leaders. His good deeds are the reason The Alternative held a prayer session for him,” Adekolu stated.
Showunmi prayed that Almighty Allah grants Buhari eternal rest and paradise.
