Former President Muhammadu Buhari, who led Nigeria through a chapter of anti-corruption reform and national security challenges, has died at the age of 82.
From his early days as a military ruler in 1983 to his return as a democratically elected president in 2015, Buhari’s leadership left a mark on Nigeria’s political landscape.
Central to his presidency was the change mantra — a rallying cry that promised discipline, accountability, and a break from the past.
Though his tenure sparked both fierce loyalty and sharp criticism, Buhari’s rhetoric remained consistent: blunt, commanding, and unflinching.
As the country mourns, attention turns to the powerful words that often defined his governance as much as his policies.
His quotes — on corruption, unity, sacrifice, and national identity — captured the mind of a leader who saw himself as a custodian of order in turbulent times.
From campaign trails to presidential addresses, Buhari’s voice became a symbol of a no-nonsense era.
In his memory, we revisit some of his most memorable and defining quotes — the soundbites that became signals of a presidency driven by the promise of change.
Our correspondent picks few memorable quotes – culled from the PMB Score Card website, the portal is the one-stop-shop to access the achievements of the Buhari Administration.
Here are some of the quotes:
“Whoever thought that there has been some form of injustice on him we are all humans, there is no doubt I hurt some people, and I wish they would pardon me and those who think that I have hurt them, please pardon me.
LATE PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI (May, 2023).
“I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With the support and cooperation, he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a united people capable of doing what is right for our nation. Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria.”
INAUGURAL SPEECH OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI FOLLOWING HIS SWEARING-IN AS PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON 29TH MAY, 2015
“Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody. A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue.”
INAUGURAL SPEECH OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI FOLLOWING HIS SWEARING-IN AS PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON 29TH MAY, 2015
“I know how difficult things are, and how rough business is. All my adult life I have always earned a salary and I know what it is like when your salary simply is not enough. In every part of our nation people are making incredible sacrifices.”
INDEPENDENCE DAY ADDRESS OF HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON 1ST OCTOBER 2016
“We wasted our large foreign exchange reserves to import nearly everything we consume. Our food, Our clothing, Our manufacturing inputs, Our fuel and much more. In the past 18 months when we experienced low oil prices, we saw our foreign exchange earnings cut by about 60%, our reserves eroded and our consumption declined as we could not import to meet our needs.”
SPEECH OF HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT THE PRESENTATION OF 2017 ‘BUDGET OF RECOVERY AND GROWTH’
“Elections need not be [a] do or die affair, and we should not approach that eventuality in a democracy with trepidation and mortal fear. Happily, a large number of presidential candidates have committed to peace, and peace we shall have.”
PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI’S 2019 NEW YEAR SPEECH ON 1ST JANUARY 2019
“We need to begin a sincere process of national healing and this anniversary presents a genuine opportunity to eliminate old and outworn perceptions that are always put to test in the lie they always are. The stereotype of thinking of ourselves as coming from one part of the country before seeing ourselves as Nigerians is a key starting point to project us on the road to our deserved nation’s evolution and integration.”
SPEECH OF HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON THE OCCASION OF THE Nigeria At 60 CELEBRATIONS AND INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH
“Change does not just happen. You and I and all of us must appreciate that we all have our part to play if we want to bring change about. We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behaviour in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.”
ADDRESS OF HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT THE OCTOBER 1ST INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION OF NIGERIA AT 55
“I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.”
PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ADDRESSES NIGERIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA AFTER 25TH AU SUMMIT IN JOHANNESBURG
“Although we are working to diversify our economy, we will not lose sight of the need to restructure the oil and gas sector which has been marred by corruption and plagued with inefficiencies.”
2016 BUDGET SPEECH “THE BUDGET OF CHANGE” DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA TO A JOINT SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Credit: Punch
