In a deeply moving ceremony that captured the nation’s attention, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid his ultimate honor to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday. The emotional farewell took place in Buhari’s hometown of Daura, Katsina State, where President Tinubu was observed bowing his head before the flag-draped coffin of his predecessor. This powerful gesture symbolized a moment of profound national respect and unity.
President Tinubu approached the military stretcher carrying Buhari’s body and paused in solemn reverence, bowing in tribute. The former leader’s body, wrapped in the Nigerian flag and handled with ceremonial precision, served as a powerful homage to his enduring legacy.
More than just a national farewell, the funeral underscored the immense esteem Buhari commanded even after his passing. Local and international Tributes, grief and reflections poured in from across the political spectrum, religious groups and international allies.
The funeral prayer, led by Imam Hassan Yusuf, saw an extraordinary gathering of dignitaries from both within Nigeria and abroad. Notable attendees included Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief of Staff to the President, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, Niger Republic Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine, and former Nigerian leaders Atiku Abubakar and Yemi Osinbajo and federal cabinet members. Also present were prominent figures such as business mogul Aliko Dangote, revered traditional rulers and senior lawmakers.
Earlier that day, President Tinubu had personally received Buhari’s remains at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina before joining thousands of mourners in Daura for the final Islamic rites and interment at Buhari’s private residence.
President Tinubu’s public display of respect is described by many as the highest honor to be given as state burial, reaffirmed the strong bond between Nigeria’s past and present leaders, cementing Buhari’s esteemed place in the nation’s history as a great.
