Shettima Expected Home With Buhari’s Remains
• All roads lead to Duara where the late Nigerian leader would be laid to rest
By PHC Telegraph
All the roads would today lead to Daura, Katsina State, where the mortal remains of Nigeria’s former President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari would be laid to rest.
Information reaching out news desk say arrangements for the burial spearheaded by the Federal Government and the deceased family are firmly in place.
Very important personalities from across the nation including associates and loyalists of the former president, according to what we have heard, have arrived Daura to pay their last respects to a man who shunned excessive wealth.
Vice President Kashim Shettima ordered by President Bola Tinubu to cut short an official engagement in Sao Tome and Principe and proceed to the United Kingdom in order to accompany Buhari’s remains back home is expected to arrive the country soon.
Buhari, an ardent Muslim, who is one of Nigeria’s longest serving leaders is expected to be laid to rest at his hometown in line with Islamic rites and tradition.
The late President died on Sunday at a London clinic where he had gone for the treatment of an undisclosed ailment.
He was aged 82.
President Tinubu promptly expressed condolences on behalf of himself and the Nigerian people to Aisha, wife of the late democrat and disciplinarian, and ordered flags to fly at half-staff across the country.
Tinubu paid glowing tribute to the former head of state, saying Nigeria had lost a great leader and statesman.
“It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart”, Tinubu noted, “that I received the news of the passing of His Excellency, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), GCFR, my predecessor, who departed this life today, Sunday, July 13, 2025, at a hospital in the United Kingdom.
“President Buhari was to the very core, a patriot, a soldier, a statesman. His legacy of service and sacrifice endures. He served Nigeria with unwavering dedication, first as a military leader from January 1984 to August 1985, and later as a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023. Duty, honour, and a deep commitment to the unity and progress of our nation defined his life.
“He stood firm through the most turbulent times, leading with quiet strength, profound integrity, and an unshakable belief in Nigeria’s potential. He championed discipline in public service, confronted corruption head-on, and placed the country above personal interest at every turn.
“In this moment of national mourning, I extend my deepest condolences to his beloved wife, Aisha, with whom I have been in constant touch, his children, the entire Buhari family, and all who knew and loved him.
“I also extend my condolences to the government and people of Katsina State, most especially the people and traditional leaders of Daura Emirate. We honour his service. We reflect on his legacy. And we pray for the peaceful repose of his soul.”
Geoffrey Onyenma who served as foreign minister under Buhari described his boss on Arise Television as a dedicated, committed and unwavering leader.
He said Buhari was highly revered by world leaders whilst he served as president, saying his contributions to the survival of the country would never be forgotten.
Tributes have been pouring in from across the country since the news of the demise of the former president broke.
President Olusegun Obasanjo remarked, “Muhammadu (Buhari) tried his best. My prayer is that God will forgive him for his inadequacies and accept him into His kingdom.”
Former Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo who served under Buhari observed, “Nigeria has lost a true patriot, as many whose life was marked by unyielding devotion to the nation he loved.
“President Buhari’s legacy will endure as a testament to the nobility of public service, defined by honesty, discipline and an unwavering commitment to the public good.”
Also paying tribute to the former president, Vice President Atiku Abubakar stated on X, “President Buhari was not just a former Head of State, he was a symbol of Nigeria’s resilience. From the battlefield to the corridors of power, he served with the kind of austere conviction and firm belief in duty that marked him as a soldier of principle and a leader of formidable will.
“His death is not just a loss to his immediate family and the people of Daura, it is a profound national tragedy. Nigeria has lost a statesman who bore the burdens of leadership in both turbulent and triumphant times and whose legacy will be remembered for generations to come.”
In his own reaction, Peter Obi said, “His death provides a solemn moment, not just for his family and close associates, but for our nation as a whole.
“President Buhari has always comported himself in a dignified manner as a leader… May Almighty Allah, Most Gracious and Most Merciful, forgive President Buhari’s shortcomings, reward his efforts in service to the nation, and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.”