By Abiola Olawale
In a solemn moment, Nigeria has bid farewell to one of its most towering iconic national figures whise groundbreaking recirds of service is unequalled, the immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, who was laid to rest in the courtyard of his private residence in Daura on Tuesday evening, July 15, 2025.
Buhari, the 82-year-old elder- statesman, who shaped Nigeria’s political landscape as both a military ruler and a democratically elected president, was buried in accordance withIslamic rites, surrounded by dignitaries, family, and mourners who gathered to honor his enduring legacy.
He was committed to Mother Earth at his favourite spot in his official residence in Daura, Kastina State.
The final journey of Buhari, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, in a London clinic after a brief illness, was marked by a profound display of national unity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, leading a high-level government delegation, received the former president’s remains at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina at 1:51 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Air Force jet carrying Buhari’s body touched down as Tinubu inspected a guard of honor, setting a somber tone for the day’s proceedings.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, who had traveled to London to accompany the remains home, were joined by dignitaries such as the Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Buhari rose from humble beginnings as the 23rd child of a village chief to become a defining figure in Nigeria’s history.
His military career, which included training in Kaduna, Great Britain, India, and the United States, propelled him to prominence during the 1975 coup that ousted General Yakubu Gowon.
As military head of state from 1984 to 1985, Buhari earned a reputation as a disciplinarian, launching campaigns against corruption and indiscipline.
Decades later, his historic 2015 presidential victory as an opposition candidate—the first of its kind in Nigeria—cemented his status as a distinguished leader of repute.
