The daughters of late former President Muhammadu Buhari have shared touching memories of their father as the nation continues to mourn his passing.
According to report, Buhari died on Sunday at a London hospital following a prolonged illness.
Tributes have poured in from across the country for the former president, who has been described by close associates as “a loving family man with a deep sense of humility.”
In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, one of Buhari’s younger daughters, Aisha Hanan Buhari, expressed her deep sorrow, saying “What I will miss most about him is his sense of humour. I look up to him as a part of me.”
She expressed gratitude to Nigerians who held no bitterness towards her late father, stating, “We have nothing to say to them except thank you, thank God.”
Hanan described Buhari as “one of the common people”, adding that his values inspired her to “study, pray, and do things that made us happy.”
Another of Buhari’s daughters, Hadiza Muhammadu Buhari, popularly known as Nana, reflected on her father’s character and legacy.
Sharing a memory from his time in London, she recounted, “During his treatment, I went to London to check on him. After he got better, I decided to return to Nigeria. When I told him, ‘Dad, I’m going,’ he said, ‘Where are you going?’ I told him I was returning to Nigeria, and he said, ‘Greet Nigerians.’”
When asked what her father called her, she replied, “He called me Madam Nana. We chat, joke, and laugh together.”
Nana emphasized the values Buhari instilled in his children, especially integrity and honesty. She recalled an incident where she used leftover money from a textbook purchase to buy sweets, and her father corrected her gently but firmly.
“Nana, that’s not good. If you are sent to buy something with money, when you return, give the change back to the person who sent it… Do not touch anything that is not yours. Keep the trust and do not take away someone else’s rights,” she quoted him as saying.
Describing his temperament, she added: “He is a patient and tolerant person. Dad doesn’t like noise. You can’t insult him and he will retaliate, unless he keeps an eye on you. He was humorous, social, and easygoing.”