By U19MM1055 Abubakar Maryam Gozaki
President Bola Tinubu paid a moving tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari during a Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. In his address, Tinubu announced the renaming of the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri, as a lasting memorial to the late leader’s contributions to Nigeria.
Tinubu described Buhari as “pious without show, just without cruelty, humane without sentimentality, temperate without coldness, and sincere without guile.” He praised the late president’s integrity and quiet strength, emphasizing that Buhari’s life served as a rebuke to vice and a refuge for virtue.
The session was attended by several dignitaries, including ministers who served under Buhari and his son, Yusuf. Tinubu spoke not only of Buhari's leadership but also of his personal character, stating, “To those whom he loved most intimately, he was unfailingly tender, loyal, and good.”
Muhammadu Buhari died on July 13, 2025, in London at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the world. President Tinubu declared a seven day national mourning, with flags ordered to fly at half staff throughout the period.
Vice President Kashim Shettima was dispatched to London to accompany Buhari’s remains back to Nigeria. He was laid to rest according to Islamic rites in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, surrounded by family, dignitaries, and sympathizers.
The renaming of the university stands as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for Buhari’s lifelong dedication to public service. As Nigeria continues to face evolving challenges, Tinubu urged citizens to reflect on the values Buhari represented; integrity, humility, and patriotism, and to carry those lessons forward.