President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima led a procession of Nigeria’s political and military elite to Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday, where the late President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest in a solemn ceremony attended by heads of state, former leaders, lawmakers, governors, and business titans.
Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s military head of state in the 1980s and returned as a democratically elected president for two terms from 2015 to 2023, died on Sunday, July 13, in a London hospital. His flag-draped casket was flown back aboard the presidential jet he once used in office, landing at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina just before 2 p.m. where President Tinubu personally received the remains.
The burial, conducted according to Islamic rites by Daura’s Chief Imam, Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, drew an extraordinary array of dignitaries, including Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, Niger Republic’s Prime Minister Ali Zeine, and former Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou.
Former Vice Presidents Yemi Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar were joined by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and a large contingent from the National Assembly. Security chiefs past and present—including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and former Defence Chief, General Tukur Buratai—were also in attendance.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda led his state’s delegation, which included top legislative and executive officials. At the federal level, prominent ministers and presidential aides, including Mohammed Idris (Information), Bello Matawalle (Defence), and Ahmed Dangiwa (Housing), paid their respects, alongside Buhari-era appointees such as former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami and former ICT Minister Isa Pantami.
Governors from across the federation were present—among them AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Hope Uzodimma (Imo)—alongside their predecessors, including Nasir El-Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, and Ali Modu Sheriff.
Business leaders Aliko Dangote, Sayyu Dantata, and Dahiru Mangal stood among the mourners, while traditional rulers such as the Emirs of Daura, Katsina, and Kano graced the final rites.
According to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, more than 130 aircraft movements were recorded in Katsina within 48 hours, a testament to the scale of Buhari’s final farewell.
A full military ceremony unfolded on the tarmac as a team of nine senior officers carried the casket through a guard of honour, with solemn hymns filling the air. President Tinubu and other dignitaries walked behind the hearse in a sombre procession to Daura, where the Salatul Janazah was held at the PMB Helicopter Ground. There, thousands of citizens paid their last respects.
The burial took place at Buhari’s private residence just before 6 p.m., following a 21-gun salute and prayers for his eternal peace. President Tinubu, family members, and close allies witnessed the interment.
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. Dr Rabi’atu Aliyu, former Minister of State for the FCT, described Buhari as “honest, enduring, and tolerant,” recalling a deep personal bond with the late leader. “He appointed people based on merit, not tribe,” she said, calling him a father figure to many.
Sadiya Farouq, Buhari’s former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, echoed similar sentiments. “He gave us the space to dream, to lead, and to serve,” she said. “We’ve truly lost a father and a patriot.”
As the sun set over Daura, Nigeria bid farewell to a towering figure in its political life—military ruler, democratic president, and, to many, a symbol of discipline and simplicity.
