Nura Muhammad Mahe, a grandson of Nigeria’s late former President Shehu Shagari, has praised President Bola Tinubu for the statesmanship and respect he demonstrated by honouring the late President Muhammadu Buhari with a state burial.
In a statement, Mahe commended Tinubu for personally attending Buhari’s funeral and establishing a committee to ensure a befitting state ceremony. He described the gesture as a symbol of honour and a unifying act for the nation.
“This stands in stark contrast to how the administration of Muhammadu Buhari treated the passing of President Shehu Shagari,” Mahe noted.
He recalled that when Shagari died, Buhari was present in the country but did not attend the funeral, nor did he grant the former president a state burial.
“Rather, he sent a government delegation led by then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who is notably a non-Muslim,” he said.
Mahe expressed disappointment over what he considered a lack of due recognition for Shagari, Nigeria’s first democratically elected Executive President.
“It remains a painful memory that President Shagari passed away under the leadership of someone widely believed to have held political grudges against him. Even in death, Buhari showed minimal public acknowledgement or remorse,” the statement added.
He ended by praying for the forgiveness and eternal rest of all departed Nigerian leaders, stating that their contributions—whether celebrated or contested—form a lasting part of the nation’s history.