Vice-President Kashim Shettima, yesterday, paid a condolence visit to the family of late former president, Muhammadu Buhari, in London.
Shettima who is in London at the behest of President Bola Tinubu to accompany Buhari’s body to Nigeria for burial at his hometown, Daura, Katsina State also visited the late president’s nephew, Malam Mamman Daura, who is recuperating in a London hospital.
Shettima also visited former military head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who is recuperating after discharge from the hospital.
Former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and former Ghanaian president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also visited Shettima and his delegation in London and paid glowing tributes to the late Buhari.
Shettima is in London on President Bola Tinubu’s directive to accompany former President Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.
His delegation includes Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Zulum, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia.
Meanwhile, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed sorrow over his demise.
Ganduje, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, described the late president as a true patriot, a disciplined leader, and a statesman who dedicated his life to the service of Nigeria and humanity.
He described President Buhari’s death as a monumental loss, not just to his immediate family and the good people of Katsina State, but also to the entire nation.
“President Buhari was an embodiment of integrity, discipline, and selfless service. From his days as a military officer to his tenure as a democratically elected President, he remained committed to the unity, progress, and development of Nigeria. His legacy of fighting corruption, promoting agricultural growth, and ensuring national security will continue to be remembered.”
He urged Nigerians to “honour the late president’s legacy by continuing to uphold the values of patriotism, honesty, and sacrifice that he stood for.”
Similarly, former governor of Osun State and pioneer national chairman of APC, Bisi Akande, also mourned the passing of the former president.
Akande, in a statement he personally signed noted that: “It is with profound sadness that I received the news of the passing of Buhari. This loss is felt deeply across the nation, and beyond, as Buhari’s influence extended far and wide. President Buhari’s leadership and contributions to Nigeria’s development both as Military head of state and Civilian President will be remembered for generations to come.”
“His leadership left a lasting impact on the nation. His commitment to democracy, stability, and progress in our great nation is a testament to his dedication to public service.His leadership helped to strengthen our democracy and promote national unity.
“As we bid farewell to a remarkable leader, we honor his memory by continuing to uphold the values of unity, peace, and national pride that he championed. I stand in solidarity with the family of late President Buhari during this difficult time.”
The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) and the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), Kaduna State Chapter, have also mourned the late Buhari.
Chairman of Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, said Buhari’s leadership as military head of State and civilian president were mixed feelings for the people of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria as a whole.
“We are not a people who forget history entirely. We remember with nostalgia his first coming as Nigeria’s military Head of State in 1984–1985. During that brief period, there was a determined effort to sanitise the Nigerian system, instill national discipline, confront corruption and restore national pride.
“The nostalgia of 1984/85 still lives with many of us in spite of the flaws it came with. Buhari made us feel that Nigerians can adapt to discipline with the right leadership in place.
“May God heal this nation from the traumas of the past and raise leaders who will truly serve all Nigerians with justice, equity, and truth, not favouring one part of the country over another.”
On its part, SCSN described late Buhari as a principled leader whose life was defined by discipline, integrity and steadfast commitment to both national and moral renewal.
In a condolence message signed by its Secretary, AbdurRahman Hassan, the Council recalled that a notable hallmark of Buhari’s legacy was his courageous support for the reimplementation of Shari’ah law in Northern Nigeria during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo, at a time when the move sparked intense national debates and stiff resistance.
It said Buhari stood firm by providing both constitutional and moral backing, ensuring that states in the North could exercise their right to adopt Shari’ah based on the wishes of their people. This, according to the Council, helped restore confidence among Islamic scholars and laid the foundation for the establishment of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria.
Immediate past President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, described the late president as a genuinely pro-poor and pro-people leader whose policies impacted the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Wabba stated this in a condolence message following Buhari’s death over the weekend, during what was meant to be a routine medical check-up in London, United Kingdom.
He said the news of Buhari’s passing came as a shock to many Nigerians, adding that the former President’s legacy, especially his concern for workers and the downtrodden, would not be forgotten soon.
Wabba recalled that shortly after Buhari assumed office in 2015, he approved a $2.1 billion bailout for cash-strapped states to enable them to clear unpaid salaries and pensions.
He also noted that in 2017, Buhari released another tranche of funds running into billions of naira to help states settle salary and pension arrears, although some governors allegedly diverted the money.
On the issue of minimum wage, Wabba said Buhari showed clear commitment to workers’ welfare by proposing a figure higher than the eventual N30,000 minimum wage agreed upon during negotiations between labour, the federal government, and state governors. According to him, the failure to set a higher wage was due to the refusal of many state governors.
“Perhaps the most illustrious epaulet on the shoulders of President Muhammadu Buhari as a pro-poor President was his principled and stoic resistance to the removal of petrol subsidy, despite humongous pressure from the World Bank and IMF. He stood firm on the side of ordinary Nigerians,” Wabba said.
He emphasised that leaders are ultimately remembered for the impact they make on the lives of ordinary people, adding that Buhari’s legacy in this regard would endure.
“Perhaps, the most illustrious epaulet on the shoulders of President Muhammadu Buhari as a pro-poor President was his principled and stoic resistance to remove the so-called petrol subsidy and increase the price of refined petroleum products beyond the reach of the average Nigerian. Despite humungous pressure from the World Bank and the IMF, President Muhammadu Buhari stood firm on the side of ordinary Nigerians.
“Leaders will only be remembered by the impact they make on the lives of ordinary people and workers within their spheres of influence. We pray that Allah will forgive Late President Muhammadu Buhari his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdus,” he stated.
Credit: The Sun