Nigeria Bids Farewell As Former President Muhammadu Buhari Is Laid To Rest In Daura
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that a somber atmosphere enveloped Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday, as Nigeria bid farewell to one of its longest-serving leaders, former President Muhammadu Buhari. The small agrarian town, his birthplace, witnessed an outpouring of grief and emotion as his remains were laid to rest.
At exactly 5:50 p.m., the 82-year-old statesman was buried in accordance with Islamic rites, following a full state funeral that included military honors, a gun salute, and ceremonial processions befitting a former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. His casket, draped in the national green-white-green flag, was lowered into the earth in the presence of mourning family members, close associates, and dignitaries.
Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at The London Clinic in the United Kingdom, after a prolonged illness. His body was flown back to Nigeria, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu received it at the Katsina Airport ahead of the funeral proceedings in Daura.
Among the high-profile mourners were his widow, Aisha Buhari; President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima; former Vice Presidents Yemi Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar; billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote; traditional rulers, religious leaders, serving and former governors, ministers, and other dignitaries.
Known to many in northern Nigeria as “Mai Gaskiya”—a Hausa phrase meaning “the truth-teller”—Buhari was revered by millions for his austere lifestyle and anti-corruption stance. His political journey spanned nearly a decade in leadership: first as Nigeria’s military head of state from January 1984 to August 1985, and later as a democratically elected president from May 2015 to May 2023.
Tuesday was declared a national day of mourning by the Federal Government, with flags flown at half-mast across the country in honor of the departed leader.
Though Buhari will be remembered for his strong anti-indiscipline campaign and efforts to combat corruption, his legacy remains a subject of debate. While his supporters view him as a man of integrity, critics have raised concerns about some of his policies and the handling of key national issues during his administration.
As Daura receives its most famous son in eternal rest, Nigeria reflects on the life and times of a leader whose impact—whether praised or criticized—left a lasting imprint on the nation’s history.
