Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors Dikko Radda of Katsina State and Babagana Zulum of Borno State yesterday led other mourners in Daura to the Fidau prayer for former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Other dignitaries at the third-day prayer were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023 election, Peter Obi, and former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.
The event was also attended by former governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, the director-general of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness (HRH) Faruk Umar Faruk, former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai, former minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami andformer minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Aliyu Isah Pantami, Senator Abdul Aziz Yar’adua.
Also at the prayer session were former minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, former NIA director-general, Ahmad Rufa’i, and the deputy governor of Katsina State, Faruk Jobe.
The prayer was held at the later leader’s residence in Daura.
The Fidau prayer marked a solemn moment of remembrance, tribute, and prayer for the repose of the soul of Buhari.
Sarkin Malamai of Daura, Malam Naziru Daura, who led the prayers, was joined by a congregation of renowned Islamic clerics, who offered supplications for forgiveness, eternal rest, and peace for Buhari.
Shettima, who stood in for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, delivered a stirring reflection, invoking the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of worldly power.
“Every soul shall taste the torment of death… We should all consider ourselves as travellers with our bags and baggage waiting for the train,” he said, praying for divine mercy and eternal paradise for the late leader.
For Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, the loss was deeply personal and communal. Speaking with heartfelt emotion, he described Buhari as a father figure and a compass for the people of Katsina.
“We have lost a guide who supported us through our journey. All we have to do today and forever is to continue to pray for his soul and live by the principles he left behind,” the Governor said. He called on Nigeria’s leaders to take heed of Buhari’s passing as a lesson in humility and the fear of God in governance.
Other dignitaries offered their prayers and tributes, including Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, and former Minister of Communications and Islamic scholar, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, who led a special prayer session, pleading for divine mercy upon the deceased.
The event attracted a formidable lineup of Nigeria’s political class, with notable presence from across party lines. Among them were Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Baba Gana Kingibe, Minister of Housing Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, former Governors Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), and Mannir Yakubu (Deputy Governor, Katsina).
Serving ministers, including Mohammed Idris (Information), Atiku Bagudu (Budget and Planning), Ali Pate (Health), and Abubakar Kyari (Agriculture), were also present, as well as former cabinet members such as Hadi Sirika (Aviation), Abubakar Malami (Justice), and Muhammed Bello (FCT).
The solemn ceremony was further dignified by the attendance of security and intelligence veterans such as former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), former NIA DG Ahmed Rufai, and NDLEA Chairman Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd).
Buhari’s longtime confidant and nephew, Mamman Daura, was among the family members who received condolences from the high-powered delegation.
Governor Radda led an expansive Katsina State Government delegation, including Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal Jobe, House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Nasir Yahaya Daura, Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Abdullahi Garba Faskari, members of the executive council, and APC State Chairman Alhaji Sani Aliyu Daura.
Traditional institutions were strongly represented, led by the Emir of Daura, HRH Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Emirs of Potiskum and Gumel, alongside kingmakers and district heads.
Security was tight but respectful, as top leadership from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) ensured the safety and orderliness of the gathering.
The prayer session concluded a significant chapter in the nation’s farewell to one of its most enduring leaders. Muhammadu Buhari, whose public life spanned decades of military and civilian leadership, is remembered for his discipline, austere lifestyle, and unwavering commitment to integrity.
As the sun set over Daura, the echoes of solemn prayers, emotional tributes, and the steady flow of mourners all spoke to the legacy of a man whose presence will be missed but whose imprint on the nation remains indelible.
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