Tinubu, Gowon, Others Say Buhari Put Nigeria Above Personal Interest

President Bola Tinubu, has said the late immediate past president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari gave everything he had to the country without reservation.

Tinubu said this at the One Year Remembrance of the former president and unveiling of a complimentary book titled:“Tributes and Condolences in Honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari” at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja on Monday, July 13, 2026.

Buhari died on July 13, 2025 while receiving medical treatment at a clinic in London after which his body was flown back to Nigeria and laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina state, with a state funeral and full military honors.

Tinubu, who was the special guest of honour at the event, said Buhari served the country with courage, conviction and patriotism that “never asked what the nation could return to him.”

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the former Lagos State governor said he and ex-Nigerian leader were co-travellers on the long road of politics and national development through thick and thin

“President Buhari and I were co-travellers on the long road of politics and national development. We worked together through seasons of difficulty and seasons of hope.

“We shared a deep and abiding passion for a renewed, progressive, and prosperous Nigeria—a nation held together by brotherhood, settled in peace, and generous in abundance so that no citizen is left outside the circle of its promise.

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

“From his years as a military leader to his transformation into a democrat and a determined defender of constitutional order, he embodied the very spirit of change and nation-building.

“Few men are permitted two lives in the service of one country. He was given that rare privilege, and he used it well.
I want to say something about him that we do not say often enough.

“Power ordinarily exhausts the affection of the governed. That is the common course of office, and every one of us who has carried it understands that course,” Tinubu said.

He stated that Buhari laid down the burden of leadership and through all the years of his retirement and final months, when illness had taken the strength from his body, the trust of ordinary Nigerians did not depart from him.

“It followed him into private life. It sat with him in Daura. It waited outside his door. Such constancy, surviving the hallway of public office and the long quiet that comes after it, is 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.

“Today, we gather to celebrate his memory and to honour a man of real character, a leader who taught by the example of his own life and who departed, leaving behind an inheritance that continues to instruct us.

“We honour him in death as we honoured him in life, and we do so without embellishment because his life required none.
He had no appetite for flattery when he was among us, and he will have none for it now.

“To the immediate family, to our dear Mrs Aisha Buhari, and to the younger Buharis, I know that you have passed through a season of profound grief. Please be assured that the nation and this administration stand with you now and in all the years to come. We will continue to hold you up in our prayers, trusting that Almighty Allah will comfort you, sustain you and shield you from all harm.

“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.
I have no doubt that had this remembrance been thrown open to all who wished to attend, this venue would have overflowed, and the streets beyond it would have overflowed as well. Such was the love and regard Nigerians held for President Buhari, and such is the love they hold for him still.

“I thank every one of you present here for your continued devotion to his memory and to his legacy. Fellow compatriots, while we honour what President Buhari represented, we must pray for the repose of his soul and share in the family’s grief.

“We must continue to strive, in our own conduct, to approach the standard he kept. That is the only tribute worthy of him, and it is one he would have asked for,” Tinubu added.

Similarly, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, said the late Buhari did his best for Nigeria.

“Our thoughts have remained with the Buhari family and with Nigeria as a whole because President Buhari made significant contributions to the nation,”he said.

According to the former Head of State, Buhari was always a leader who placed the interests of Nigeria above personal or regional interests.

“My relationship with General Buhari goes back many years. We served together as soldiers, and all of us did our best to keep this country united. I knew him as a gallant soldier and as a man who earned respect.

“Later, after our retirement from the military, General Buhari decided to go into politics. He did his best to seek political leadership that would support his ambition to become President,” Gowon said.

The ex-military leader said the former president realised his ambition of governing the country through the support of President Tinubu whom he also backed to succeed him.

“He(Buhari) contested several times but was unsuccessful. However, when he joined hands with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they formed a strong political alliance. The support he received from Asiwaju Tinubu certainly helped him to emerge as President. Their partnership remained strong throughout his administration.

“As President Buhari prepared to leave office, he gave his full support to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed him as President. I remember clearly how committed President Buhari was to ensuring that Tinubu received the same support that Tinubu had given him during his own presidential journey.

“This is something for which we must give President Buhari credit. He stood firmly behind President Tinubu so that he could continue serving Nigeria and do his best for the country, just as Buhari himself sought to do.

“I would like to say that President Buhari did his best for Nigeria. His sense of integrity and fairness knew no bounds,” Gowom said.

He recalled that, “on a personal note, while I was in the United Kingdom, I found myself without the means to pay my children’s school fees. I appealed to him, and he ensured that my family received assistance to pay those school fees.

“That was the kind of person he was. He cared for people. During his time in office, he worked for all Nigerians, not just for the North. Some people believed he governed only for the North, but that was not the case. He ensured that every state and every part of the country was treated fairly and equally. That remains to his credit.

“General Buhari was always a leader who placed the interests of Nigeria above personal or regional interests. I am also pleased that the support President Tinubu gave him eventually made it possible for President Tinubu himself to lead Nigeria.”

In his remarks, the governor of Katsina state and chief host of the event, Dr Dikko Umaru Radda, said people of the state,
remain immensely proud of the life Buhari lived, the values he represented and the enduring legacy he left behind.

Represented by his deputy, Faruk Lawal Jobe, Governor Radda said the deceased former president belonged to that rare generation of leaders whose personal integrity became synonymous with public service.

“Throughout his military and civilian careers, he remained steadfast in his commitment to discipline, honesty, accountability, patriotism and national unity.

“Whether one agreed with all his policies or not, no one could reasonably question his sincerity of purpose, his simplicity of lifestyle and his unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project. He firmly believed that leadership was a sacred trust and that public office exists to serve the people rather than personal interests,” the governor said.

Radda noted Buhari’s administration pursued critical reforms in infrastructure development, agriculture, social investment, anti-corruption, security and institutional strengthening.

“Under his leadership, Nigeria witnessed unprecedented investment in rail transportation, road construction, airport rehabilitation, power infrastructure and agricultural interventions aimed at achieving greater food security and economic resilience,” he said.

Radda added that beyond those tangible achievements, President Buhari gave Nigeria something equally valuable—an enduring example of modesty in leadership.

“Despite occupying the highest office in the land, he remained accessible, disciplined and remarkably humble. His personal lifestyle consistently reflected the values he preached, earning him admiration both within Nigeria and across the international community.

“Here in Katsina state, President Buhari was more than a former Head of State or former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was our illustrious son, our pride and our moral compass. He never forgot his roots. He remained deeply connected to his people and continued to demonstrate genuine concern for the development and progress of our state.

“His passing one year ago created a vacuum that cannot easily be filled. We lost not only a distinguished statesman but also a father figure whose counsel, wisdom and patriotic guidance were invaluable to our nation,” the governor added.

Earlier, Chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the event and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha thanked President
Tinubu, former Presidents and Heads of State; leaders of
the National Assembly; state governors; traditional rulers;
religious leaders amongst others for honouring the memory of Buhari.

Mustapha said the passing of the former president came as a profound shock to the nation and elicited an extraordinary outpouring of grief across Nigeria, Africa, and many
parts of the world, adding that the depth of that affection and respect is reflected in the Book of Tributes and Condolences unveiled at the memorial event.

He said the deceased family is currently taking steps towards the establishment of the
Muhammadu Buhari Foundation and Centre, alongside a number of publications and other legacy initiatives devoted to documenting his life, service, and contributions to the
nation.

“On behalf of the Buhari family and the Central Planning Committee, I express our heartfelt appreciation to every one of you for honouring
this occasion with your presence. Your friendship, goodwill, and compassion at this time of remembrance will remain deeply cherished.

“In due course, we shall return to Your Excellency and to many of the distinguished leaders and friends gathered here today as these initiatives take shape. We trust that we can continue to count on your goodwill and support in preserving this important legacy for future
generations,” he added.

For her part, Buhari’s daughter, Safina Muhammadu, said they remain committed to preserving the values he lived by encouraging future generations to embrace integrity, discipline, justice and selfless service to humanity.

She disclosed that the proceeds from the book; “From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari which was launched on December 15, 2025 had been donated to Al-Qalam University, Katsina through a Computer Science Complex.

Safina said this was, “in line with our late father’s long-standing desire to contribute to the development of health and educational programmes.

“The decision to invest in Al-Qalam University, Katsina, was informed by Alhaji Ahmadu Rufa’i’s Council, which appealed that the proceeds be invested in Al-Qalam University as a community-based and charitable institution.

“The groundbreaking ceremony of the project took place in Katsina on July 5, 2026. When completed, the complex will have a 200-seat auditorium, two lecture halls with a capacity of 150 seats each, three computer laboratories equipped with 50 computers each, one 12-seat lecturers’ workshop, lecturers’ offices, the Head of Department’s office, one common room, one students’ cafeteria, and a secretary’s office.

“Today has been a day of reflection, prayer, and gratitude. We have been reminded not only of the offices he held, but more importantly of the values he cherished: faith in Allah, integrity, discipline, humility, patriotism, and an unwavering commitment to serving Nigeria with honesty and dedication.

“We express our profound appreciation to our distinguished guest lecturers for their enlightening presentation. Your thoughtful reflections have reminded us that true leadership is measured not merely by years in office, but by the values one leaves behind and the lives one touches.

“To our respected Islamic scholars and religious leaders, thank you for your heartfelt prayers. We pray that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), in His infinite mercy, forgives our father’s shortcomings, expands his grave, fills it with light, and grants him the highest place in Al-Jannatul Firdaus.

“At this point, I would like to express our sincere thanks to our mother for fulfilling the wish of our late father. We appreciate you for the remarkable strength, love, and leadership you have shown since the passing of our beloved father. In the midst of profound loss, you stepped forward with unwavering courage, embracing the responsibility of holding our family together.

“We also extend our sincere appreciation to the organisers of this remembrance lecture and everyone who contributed to making this event a success. Your dedication and hard work are truly appreciated, and we pray that Allah rewards you abundantly,”she added.