Senate President Godswill Akpabio has praised the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as a disciplined and incorruptible leader who served Nigeria with unwavering patriotism and financial integrity.
Speaking during the expanded Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Abuja on Thursday in honour of Buhari, Akpabio stated that even Buhari’s staunchest critics could not accuse him of mismanaging or embezzling public funds.
“Let us be honest—he was tough,” Akpabio said. “He was a soldier who did not flinch under fire, a leader who did not flee from responsibility, and above all, a Nigerian whose loyalty to this nation was never up for sale.”
The Senate President described Buhari’s firmness as a reflection of his deep love for Nigeria, rather than personal pride.
“His toughness was born not out of pride but of patriotism — a fierce, unrelenting belief that Nigeria, with all its challenges, was still worth fighting for,” he said.
Acknowledging political diversity and dissent in democracy, Akpabio noted that Buhari faced criticism, but added:
“Even his fiercest critics will admit that he did not pilfer the nation’s purse, nor pander to its pleasures to the very end.”
Akpabio further honoured Buhari as a leader who embraced duty over glory and never shirked from the weight of national responsibility.
“President Buhari did not merely pass through the corridors of power; he left his boots and imprints in them,” he remarked. “He believed that discipline mattered, that integrity mattered, and that leadership, even when lonely, must be anchored on something greater than power.”
The solemn FEC session was attended by top officials including the leadership of the National Assembly, ministers, governors, and members of the Buhari family, led by his son, Yusuf.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari passed away in a London clinic on Sunday, 13 July 2025, at the age of 82. His remains were received by President Bola Tinubu at Katsina Airport on Tuesday, and later buried at his private residence in Daura during a state funeral attended by dignitaries, political allies, and local residents.