Senate President Godswill Akpabio sparked mixed reactions on Tuesday after he made a verbal blunder during a Senate plenary session while paying tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. The gaffe occurred when Akpabio, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for organising a dignified burial for Buhari, mistakenly said Nigerians were “proud of the way Tinubu was buried.”
The slip, which was caught on camera, quickly made rounds on social media, drawing both criticism and humour. However, the Senate President continued his remarks without correcting the error, as the session proceeded with glowing tributes to the late Nigerian leader.
Former President Buhari, who passed away on July 13, 2025, in London, was laid to rest two days later in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State. His burial drew high-profile attendance, including President Tinubu, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Tinubu had declared seven days of national mourning, announced a public holiday, and renamed the University of Maiduguri as Muhammadu Buhari University in his honour.
The Senate session featured a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) titled “Emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, Former President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Senators from across party lines praised the late president’s discipline, humility, and commitment to national unity.
Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) commended Buhari’s civility and grace, despite disagreements over policies like the removal of a Chief Justice and currency redesign. “He remained a decent and disciplined man,” Dickson said.
Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) declared that “if we had more Buharis, this country would be far better,” while Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) urged Nigerians to emulate Buhari’s values of honesty and discipline.
Senator Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West) recalled Buhari’s modesty, even in politics, noting how he rejected large campaign donations and questioned their sources.
Recalling Buhari’s reluctance to enter politics, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari (APC, Zamfara West) said the late president only contested after being persuaded by religious and political leaders. “He lived on his pension and was never interested in riches,” Yari added.
In his tribute, Akpabio shared personal anecdotes about Buhari’s compassion. He recalled a time when Buhari postponed a ministerial reassignment letter out of concern for the official’s family enjoying their weekend. He also recounted a story of a Lagos street trader who was arrested with her toddler. Upon learning she was a widow, Buhari had her children enrolled in school and empowered her to start a proper business.
“People knew him as a strict man,” Akpabio said. “But there was a side of him many didn’t see—he was deeply compassionate.”
He concluded by praising President Tinubu for the honour accorded to Buhari during the burial ceremonies. “Our country has been in mourning. I commend President Tinubu for leading the nation in paying the deserved final respects. He has set a standard for how we should honour our past leaders,” Akpabio said.
Despite the gaffe, the tone of the session remained somber and respectful, marking the legacy of Nigeria’s late leader who served as military head of state and two-term elected president.
