‘Cool Patriot’ Buhari Played His Role As Soldier, Statesman, Administrator – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday paid tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died in London.

Obasanjo described the late Buhari as a patriot.

The 88-year-old statesman, who spoke to journalists in Abeokuta, said Buhari was a statesman who tried his best and contributed immensely to the socioeconomic and political development of the country.

While asking God to repose his soul, he said that the former president would be greatly missed by families and friends.

 

“This is a heavy heart that I received this afternoon, of the passing of a colleague, a comrade, a cool patriot, General Muhammadu Buhari, who as a soldier, played his role. As an administrator, he played his role as an administrator; as a statesman, he played his role as a statesman.

“At a time like this, we need the totality of the experience and what I may call statesmanship of all those who have had opportunities to run the affairs of this country to get us out of the situation we are in, he will be surely missed, may his soul rest in perfect peace.”

Buhari died on Sunday in a clinic in London, United Kingdom, at the age of 82.

A retired major general and one of Nigeria’s most recognisable political figures, Buhari served first as military head of state from 1983 to 1985, before returning as an elected president in 2015.

His two-term civilian presidency, which ended in 2023, was defined by a sweeping anti-corruption agenda, an economic reform programme, and sustained efforts to address insecurity across the country.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming hours, as tributes begin to pour in from across Nigeria.