HEADLINENEWS.NEWS SPECIAL REPORT
Sunday, June 13, 2025
President Tinubu leads tributes, flags ordered at half-staff as VP Shettima heads to London to accompany the body home
By Dr. G. Fraser. MFR.
The National Patriots.
HeadlineNews Editorial Desk
A Nation in Mourning
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a solemn announcement from the State House today, confirmed the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s two-term democratically elected leader and former military Head of State. President Buhari died in London at approximately 4:30 PM, following a prolonged illness.
In a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu extended heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Aishat Buhari, the former First Lady, and the Buhari family. He has also directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to travel to the United Kingdom immediately to accompany the late President’s body back home.
“As a mark of national respect, President Tinubu has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff across the country,” the statement read.
The Buhari Legacy: Military Discipline, Civilian Tenacity
Born on December 17, 1942, Muhammadu Buhari leaves behind a storied legacy of national service spanning over five decades. He was:
- Military Head of State (1984–1985) after a coup d’état that ousted the Shagari administration.
- Democratically elected President in 2015, defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in a landmark election—the first time an opposition candidate defeated a sitting president in Nigeria’s history.
- Re-elected in 2019, serving until 2023 before handing over to President Tinubu.
Under Buhari’s administration, Nigeria witnessed significant reforms in anti-corruption, infrastructure, agriculture, and security (especially in the North-East), though his leadership also faced strong criticism for perceived economic stagnation and democratic regression.
Nonetheless, his personal discipline, austere lifestyle, and incorruptible public image won him respect even among his fiercest critics.
A Presidency in Numbers
- Oversaw a $3.4 billion IMF emergency loan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Initiated the Anchor Borrowers Programme, supporting over 2.5 million small-scale farmers.
- Led the construction and completion of key national infrastructure, including the Second Niger Bridge, Abuja–Kaduna rail line, and Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
- Championed the Petroleum Industry Act, signed in 2021, after decades of delay.
A Prayer for the Late President
In Islam, death is the beginning of eternal life. As Nigerians across tribes and tongues offer prayers for the late President, we say:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ، وَاجْعَلْ قَبْرَهُ رَوْضَةً مِّنْ رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ فِي فِرْدَوْسِ الْأَعْلَى
“O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, make his grave a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and admit him into the highest level of Al-Firdaus.”
National and Party Tributes
The All Progressives Congress (APC), where Buhari served as a towering figure, is in mourning. Party chieftains described him as “a disciplined father of modern Nigerian conservatism”, whose political integrity and public decency helped steer the party to two consecutive presidential victories.
President Tinubu, Buhari’s political ally and successor, had earlier remarked:
“President Buhari was a soldier for integrity and a general of public trust. Nigeria owes him a debt of gratitude for his unmatched sacrifice.”
A Loss Beyond Borders
International reactions are expected in the coming days, with regional and global leaders likely to issue tributes to a man who shaped West African politics, participated in peacekeeping missions, and strengthened Nigeria’s anti-terror stance.
As Nigeria prepares for the return of his body, there will be national prayers, moments of silence, and an official day of mourning in the coming week.
The Final March of a Soldier-Statesman
President Muhammadu Buhari leaves behind not just memories, but a legacy of national commitment, simplicity, and service. He served his nation in uniform and in civilian garb, enduring through coups, prison, elections, criticism, and applause.
In this moment of collective grief, Nigerians are united in prayer, reflection, and gratitude for a man who sought to serve with honour, even in the face of immense complexity.
“The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.”
— Frederick Douglass
Rest in peace, President Muhammadu Buhari.
May Allah grant you Al-Firdausi Al-A’laa.
“President Buhari’s life was a reminder that leadership is not about charisma, but character. In a time of noise, he chose silence; in a time of excess, he chose simplicity. Nigeria may debate his policies, but history will not forget his discipline, sacrifice, and deep sense of duty.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR
Governance & Perception Management Consultant
Arewa Odua of Yorubaland
Headlinenews.news Special report
EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY: HEADLINENEWS.NEWS.
“The Soldier Who Served Twice: Buhari’s Enduring National Legacy”
Excerpt:
President Muhammadu Buhari led Nigeria first as a military ruler, and decades later, as a democratically elected president—one of Africa’s rare statesmen to serve under both systems with integrity.
Comment:
Buhari’s leadership was marked by discipline, fiscal prudence, and a deep sense of national responsibility that earned him international respect.
Quote:
“President Buhari is a respected leader and partner in Africa’s peace and development architecture.”
— António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
“Twice Elected, Always Trusted: Buhari and the Power of Public Trust”
Excerpt:
Winning back-to-back elections in 2015 and 2019, Buhari’s presidency was defined by his focus on anti-corruption, food security, and infrastructure renewal.
Comment:
His popularity among ordinary Nigerians stemmed not from rhetoric but reputation—a quiet patriotism that resonated across decades.
Quote:
“We celebrate Buhari’s commitment to integrity, accountability, and transparency in governance.”
— World Bank President, David Malpass, 2021
“Africa’s General of Integrity: Buhari’s Quiet Revolution”
Excerpt:
Buhari governed with restraint in an era of extravagance, setting a tone of modesty and public discipline, rare among African leaders of his era.
Comment:
Though not flamboyant, Buhari’s legacy is etched in the institutions he strengthened and the values he revived.
Quote:
“Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign is a model that others in the region can learn from.”
— Transparency International, 2018 Annual Report
“From Kaduna to Aso Rock: The Buhari Doctrine of Duty, Simplicity, and Service”
Excerpt:
Buhari’s story is one of national redemption—rising from military leadership to a democratic mandate, and delivering decades of uninterrupted service to Nigeria.
Comment:
He embodied continuity in an age of disruption, often choosing patience over popularity and principles over populism.
Quote:
“He’s a man of immense personal discipline and conviction, one of Nigeria’s most respected voices in the global fight against corruption.”
— Christine Lagarde, former IMF Managing Director
“Buhari and the New Face of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy”
Excerpt:
Under Buhari, Nigeria reasserted its leadership in ECOWAS, revitalized ties with China, India, and the UAE, and took bold positions on regional security and peacekeeping.
Comment:
He brought stability and moral clarity to Nigeria’s international identity and restored confidence among investors and allies.
Quote:
“We commend President Buhari’s regional leadership on security and his steadfast commitment to multilateralism.”
— African Union Commission, 2020
“Buhari the Reformer: A Legacy of Laws, Railways, and Recovery”
Excerpt:
Buhari signed the historic Petroleum Industry Act (2021), expanded Nigeria’s rail network, launched massive agricultural schemes, and steered Africa’s largest economy through a global pandemic.
Comment:
He leaves behind physical infrastructure and institutional reform that future generations will build upon.
Quote:
“Buhari’s infrastructure drive and agricultural vision mark a new era of development for Nigeria.”
— AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina
“The President Who Prioritised Principle Over Popularity”
Excerpt:
In an age defined by media flair and populist politics, Muhammadu Buhari stood apart. He governed with an unshakable sense of duty, often choosing hard truths over easy applause. His administration was marked by structural reforms, quiet discipline, and a fierce commitment to restoring national integrity.
Comment:
Buhari may not have been Nigeria’s most charismatic leader, but he was one of its most principled. He understood that lasting progress demands sacrifice, and that leadership is measured not by noise—but by results.
Quote:
“Buhari’s leadership defied the noise of the times. He may not have danced to the crowd, but he stood firm in the storm. History will remember him as a man who valued the nation’s future more than his own approval ratings.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR
Governance & Perception Management Consultant
Headlinenews.news Special report.
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU ANNOUNCES PRESIDENT BUHARI’S PASSING, ORDERS VP SHETTIMA TO THE UK TO ACCOMPANY BODY BACK HOME
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the passing of his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari died today in London at about 4.30 pm, following a prolonged illness.
President Tinubu has spoken with Mrs Aishat Buhari, the former President’s widow and offered his deep condolences.
President Tinubu has also ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed to the United Kingdom to accompany President Muhammadu Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.
Former President Buhari was twice elected Nigeria’s President in 2015 and 2023.
He also served as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985.
President Tinubu has ordered flags at half-staff as a mark of respect for the departed leader.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President)
(Information & Strategy)
June 13, 2025
INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHIR RAJI’UN.
The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London.
May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.
Signed,
Garba Shehu
13-07-25.
MUHAMMADU BUHARI: FAREWELL TO A PATRIOT AND PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT
It is with profound sorrow and complete submission to the will of Almighty Allah, that we receive the news of the passing of one of Nigeria’s most revered sons — President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. A towering figure in our national life: he was a soldier, statesman, reformer, and, above all, a beloved leader of the people.
President Buhari lived with quiet dignity and unwavering commitment to the service of Nigeria. From his early days in the military to his presidency, he embodied discipline, integrity, and uncommon patriotism. His courage in confronting corruption and insisting on accountability in public life inspired millions. A man of Spartan simplicity and deep faith, he remained grounded in the values of justice and fairness, always aligning himself with the hopes and struggles of the ordinary Nigerian — the talakawa, whom he championed with conviction.
Though a military General, he chose the difficult path of democratic reinvention. He believed deeply in the rule of law, due process, and the supremacy of the people’s will. He taught us that strength is not only measured in force, but in restraint; not only in command, but in character.
Kaduna State mourns this great son of Nigeria. To us, he was more than a leader — he was a moral compass, a father figure, and a steady voice in times of uncertainty. His legacy will live on in the ideals he upheld, the institutions he strengthened, and the millions he inspired.
On behalf of the government and people of Kaduna State, I extend our deepest condolences to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR; the Buhari family; the government and people of Katsina State; and indeed all Nigerians who now share in this moment of collective grief.
We pray that Almighty Allah, in His infinite mercy, grants President Muhammadu Buhari eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus. May He also grant comfort and strength to the bereaved and to a nation now united in remembrance.
Nigeria has lost a statesman. History has gained a legend.
Senator Uba Sani, CON
Governor, Kaduna State.
July 13th, 2025
