Aisha Hanan Buhari, one of the younger daughters of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has expressed profound grief over her father’s passing, describing it as a deeply personal loss.
In an emotional interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Hanan reflected on the close bond she shared with her father, who died on Sunday in a London clinic after a protracted but undisclosed illness.
Hanan said, “Losing him feels like losing a part of me. What I’ll miss most is his sense of humour. I looked at him as a part of myself.”
She described her father as not only a national figure but a personal source of laughter, guidance, and inspiration.
Hanan also addressed the national response to Buhari’s death, particularly the wave of forgiveness and sympathy expressed by Nigerians across social and political divides.
She said, “We have nothing to say to them but to say thank you, Alhamdulillah. He had good intentions for Nigerians. He belonged to everyone.”
Her remarks came amid widespread tributes pouring in from various sectors of society, including citizens who had once been critical of his administration but have since offered prayers and goodwill in his memory.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Hanan shared that her father instilled in her the values of education, devotion, and joyful living.
“He trained me to study, pray, and do things that make us happy,” she said, emphasising that the late President valued both academic pursuit and spiritual growth in the lives of his children.