SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has lauded the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as a leader who upheld integrity throughout his time in office, insisting that even Buhari’s critics would agree he never embezzled public funds.
Speaking during an expanded Federal Executive Council (FEC) session held in Abuja today in honour of the late leader, Akpabio described Buhari as a patriot who remained unwavering in his loyalty to Nigeria.
“Let’s be honest — he was tough. A soldier who never flinched in the face of adversity, a leader who never shied away from responsibility, and above all, a Nigerian whose loyalty was never for sale,” Akpabio said.
He added that Buhari’s strength was not driven by ego, but by a firm belief in the value and potential of Nigeria, even in the face of immense challenges.
“That is the nature of democracy. People disagreed with him. But even his fiercest critics must admit that he neither looted the treasury nor chased personal pleasure until the end.”
Akpabio went on to describe Buhari as someone who embraced duty over glory, and faced every challenge head-on.
“President Buhari did not merely pass through the corridors of power — he left his footprints there. He believed in discipline, in integrity, and in a brand of leadership rooted in purpose, not power,” he said.
The FEC tribute session was attended by top government officials, including lawmakers, ministers, state governors, and Buhari’s children, led by his son Yusuf.
Buhari, who once ruled Nigeria as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985 and later served as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, died in a London clinic on Sunday at the age of 82.
His remains were returned to Nigeria and received by President Tinubu at the Katsina Airport on Tuesday before being laid to rest in Daura during a state funeral attended by dignitaries, political allies, and members of the public.