President Bola Tinubu accorded his immediate predecessor Former President Muhammadu Buhari the deserved last respect as he led his counterpart in Guinea-Bissau, Umaru Sissoco Embaló, Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine of Niger, and former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou among other to pay last respect in Daura, Katsina, on Tuesday.
Also present were Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice Presidents, Atiku Abubakar, Yemi Osinbajo, governors, former governors, serving and former ministers and industrialists, including Aliko Dangote.
At about 5:50 pm on Tuesday, Theliberationnews gathered that the remains of the late former president were interred into Mother Earth, bringing to an end his 82-year remarkable sojourn on earth.
Before Buhari’s body was interred, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa, had read the biography of the late Nigerian president and poured encomiums on him and his leadership style.
The military also carried out routine military honours due a former General and president, while clerics performed necessary Islamic rites before the grave was covered in accordance with Islamic traditions applicable in Daura Emirate.
Vice President Shettima, who sat at the graveside to supervise the burial, along with notable other politicians, wore a sombre look throughout the duration of the funeral rituals.
It was gathered that military and other security agencies had a tough time controlling the crowd of sympathisers who had taken over the vast compound and adjoining areas in Daura just to catch a final glimpse of the late military and civilian leader.
The remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari had been driven from the Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in a motorcade to his country home in Daura where thousands of Nigerians had been waiting for the final rites and burial.
The military hearse bearing the remains arrived at the expansive compound at 4:25 pm in readiness for the final burial rites, which were conducted by Islamic clerics and military personnel.
Security was very tight in his home as every available space had been taken up by mourners who were desperate to pay their final respects to their hero and leader.
The body was accompanied to Daura by Vice President Kassim Shettima and some members of Buhari’s immediate family, including Aisha, his wife.
Buhari, who was born in Daura in the present Katsina State, ruled Nigeria as military head of state between 1983 and 1985 and came back as civilian president in 2015 till 2023 when he handed over power to President Bola Tinubu.
Prior to the final burial, President Bola Tinubu had received his remains from London at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina.“Tinubu arrived the airport from Abuja at 1:42 p.m. and inspected a guard of honour before the Nigerian Air Force plane conveying the remains of his predecessor landed at exactly 1:51 p.m.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, President Buhari’s wife, Aisha, and other family members accompanied his remains to Nigeria.
President Tinubu, along with Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Umaru Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou, and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, received the casket of the late president at the foot of the aircraft.
A joint team of military pallbearers, comprising nine senior officers, laid on a trolley the casket, draped in Nigerian flag.
The team included Major-General Mohammed Usman, Major-General Oluwafemi Williams, Major-General Shuaibu Nuhu, Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ajodo, Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa; Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Herbert Amesinlola; Air Vice Marshal Idi Sanni; and Air Vice Marshal Obinna Obiabaka. Major General Mike Alechenu coordinated the team.
The pallbearers wheeled the former leader’s casket in a slow march, in sync with the hymn, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” passing through a full military guard of honour comprising six officers and 96 soldiers, drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces.
President Tinubu and others walked behind the casket in a solemn procession, after which the pallbearers escorted the casket into a waiting military hearse for the one-hour journey to Daura, where funeral prayers and the burial ceremony took place.“The state funeral featured full military honours, including a 21-gun salute.
Kukah in his tribute, noted the contributions the late former president made to the country’s development, both as a military officer and a statesman.
He said: “I think President Buhari should be remembered as a good man. We shouldn’t focus only on his eight years of being President of Nigeria, but as a great man who made his contributions to this country in many ways.”
He offered prayers for Buhari’s soul and comfort for his family, noting that the nation was mourning the passing of one of its most enduring public figures.
