President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has described the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as a disciplined soldier, principled leader, and patriot whose legacy will continue to inspire generations of Nigerians.
Senator Akpabio made the remarks on Thursday at the State House during a Special Session of the Expanded Federal Executive Council (FEC) convened in honour of the former President, who passed away earlier this week.
In a solemn tribute, the Senate President declared; “There are moments in the life of a nation when she must pause—not out of routine, but out of reverence. Today is such a moment, as we gather in solemn remembrance of President Muhammadu Buhari a man forged in the furnace of battle and tempered in the trials of governance. A man who gave everything he had to a country that asked everything of him.”
Reflecting on his time serving under President Buhari, Akpabio praised his unwavering commitment to national duty and ethical leadership.
“He was not perfect no leader is. But he was principled. He stood for something. In a world where it is easy to chase headlines, he chose instead to chase honour. Where others sought glory, he pursued duty,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President described Buhari as austere in lifestyle, yet deeply passionate about Nigeria’s progress.
“He was not flamboyant far from it. His voice was measured, his steps deliberate. But beneath that calm exterior beat the heart of a patriot unyielding, unbending, and utterly uninterested in personal comfort when duty called.”
Akpabio emphasized that Buhari’s service, both as a military leader and as a democratically elected president, was grounded in discipline, accountability, and national interest.
“He served this nation first in uniform, and decades later, returned in civilian robes. Whether clad in khaki or agbada, through coups, campaigns, criticisms and crises, he never wavered in his belief in Nigeria. His legacy is marked by monumental achievements—too numerous to list in one tribute.”
While acknowledging that Buhari’s leadership drew criticism, Akpabio noted that even detractors could not question his personal integrity.
“Some disagreed with him. That is democracy. But even his fiercest critics will admit: he did not pilfer the nation’s purse, nor pander to its pleasures. He remained, to the very end, a sentinel of Spartan simplicity and austere integrity.”
Akpabio concluded with a stirring reflection; “Let it be said by generations to come, that a man once walked this land with a firm gait, a steady gaze, and an iron sense of duty. His name was Muhammadu Buhari. May God bless his memory. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The Special FEC Session was attended by top government officials, former cabinet members, service chiefs, and dignitaries from across the country.
