By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the news as shocking and devastating.
The former military Head of State and two-term civilian president reportedly died on Sunday in London, United Kingdom, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun said that while death is a fate all mortals must face, Buhari’s passing came as a painful surprise.
“Former President Muhammadu Buhari dead? It is hard to process this news at the moment,” the governor stated. “We had hoped, as he had done in the past, that he would pull through. Nonetheless, we take profound comfort in the legacy he leaves behindetched on the sands of time.”
Abiodun described Buhari as a gallant soldier and patriot whose unwavering commitment to Nigeria shaped both his military rule and civilian presidency.
“Both as a military leader and as a democratically elected president, Buhari made accountability his hallmark,” he noted. “Though his time as military Head of State bore the hallmarks of authoritarian rule, it is noteworthy that he reinvented himself and governed Nigeria for two terms, achieving remarkable progress in infrastructure especially in roads and rail.”
The governor also commended Buhari’s personal traits, calling him “straightforward, affable, witty, and humble,” and noted that even his staunchest critics acknowledged his integrity and selflessness.
“President Buhari held Ogun State dear to his heart. He often recalled beginning his career here as a young officer and was always eager to inaugurate key projects in the state,” Abiodun added.
He extended his condolences to the late president’s family, including his wife, Hajia Aisha Buhari; the government and people of Katsina State; the Daura Emirate; the Nigerian Army; and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I commiserate with President Tinubu on the loss of a friend and comrade in the pursuit of a better Nigeria. May Almighty Allah grant him Aljanat Firdaus,” the governor prayed.