Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd.), has paid tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, revealing that he was appointed to Nigeria’s highest military office in 2021 without ever meeting Buhari in person.
Naijaonpoint reports that Irabor, who served as Chief of Defence Staff from January 2021 until his retirement in 2023, said Buhari’s style of leadership was anchored on deep trust, quiet confidence, and unwavering discipline.
Recounting his first encounter with the former president, Irabor said, “Before he appointed me as Chief of Defence Staff on 26 January 2021, I had never met him personally.”
“I have never met you before, but I have heard of your performance. I hope you will not disappoint,” he quoted Buhari as saying.
Irabor, who disclosed this in a personal tribute to the late leader, stated that his appointment was made purely on merit, based on what Buhari had heard about his performance, rather than personal connections.
“Like many Nigerians, I knew him only from a distance, through the pages of history, the news, and the reverence with which he was spoken of in military circles,” Irabor stated.
The former defence chief described Buhari as a disciplined and principled leader who rarely spoke at length but listened with great attention.
“In President Buhari, I encountered a man who said little but listened intently and deeply. He sat for hours, attentive and composed, never once calling for a break,” Irabor recalled.
He noted that Buhari’s patience and composure often amazed those around him. “I once asked him, half in jest, how he found the patience and strength. He only smiled,” he said.
Irabor described Buhari’s leadership style as one that valued delegation and responsibility.
“President Buhari placed implicit trust in those he appointed. He never micromanaged, never second-guessed. His quiet confidence was sometimes misunderstood, but for those of us who worked closely with him, it was a mark of his strength of character,” Irabor said.
He also praised the former leader’s deep sense of honour, dignity, and integrity, noting that his legacy will continue to shape the nation’s democratic and military institutions.
Reflecting on Buhari’s passing, Irabor said he remained grateful for the opportunity to have served under him.
“To my Commander-in-Chief, my Principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, at the sound of the Last Post, rest well. You fought the good fight. May your soul find eternal peace in the bosom of the Almighty,” he wrote.
He also extended condolences to former First Lady Aisha Buhari and the entire Buhari family, describing the former president’s life of service as one “marked by calm strength and unwavering commitment to duty.”