Pius Nsabe
Retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, CFR, the 21st Indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff, has paid a deeply emotional and detailed tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, describing him as a towering national figure, principled leader, and an enduring symbol of integrity and discipline.
In his tribute released on July 14, 2025, Gambo expressed profound grief over the passing of the former Nigerian President, calling it “a monumental loss” not just to his family, but to the entire nation.
“With a deeply saddened heart and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah (SWT), I pay tribute to a towering figure in our national history, our beloved father, leader and elder statesman,” he wrote. “His passing is not only a monumental loss to his immediate family, but to the entire Nigerian nation, which he served with unmatched devotion and dignity.”
The retired naval chief recounted Buhari’s remarkable journey from military officer to statesman, praising his courage, incorruptibility, and patriotic service in both military and civilian leadership roles.
“As a soldier, General Buhari stood tall with courage, unwavering discipline and an incorruptible spirit,” Gambo noted. “As a statesman and former President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he embodied the highest ideals of public service, personal sacrifice and national commitment.”
Gambo also reflected on the honor of being appointed as Chief of the Naval Staff in January 2021, during Buhari’s second term in office. He described the appointment as one of the greatest privileges of his life.
“I recall with immense gratitude and humility his entrusting me with the honour of serving our nation… That appointment, which lasted until the end of his tenure in 2023, remains one of the greatest privileges of my life,” he said.
He recounted a particularly special moment—the Presidential Fleet Review in Lagos held just a week before Buhari left office in 2023. According to Gambo, the event marked the President’s last major military assignment and was a symbolic celebration of the Navy’s transformation under Buhari’s leadership.
“In him, I found not only a Commander-in-Chief, but a father figure who was firm yet fair, deeply principled and constantly invested in the well-being and professional growth of those under his leadership,” Gambo said.
He commended Buhari’s commitment to equipping and empowering the Nigerian Armed Forces, describing how the former President invested in personnel welfare, procurement of modern equipment, and allowed the service chiefs the autonomy and confidence needed to carry out their duties.
In the tribute, Gambo emphasized Buhari’s integrity and simplicity, stating: “President Buhari’s integrity was his enduring signature. In a world too often swayed by transient gains, he remained unmoved, anchored in honesty, simplicity and love for his country.”
He lauded the former President’s compassion for the poor and commitment to transparent governance, adding that his austere lifestyle and anti-corruption war left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s national consciousness.
Gambo also shared a touching personal anecdote about his mother’s admiration for Buhari.
“There was no bigger fan of his than my mother, and her joy was indescribable when I was named the Chief of Naval Staff by a President she deeply admired and had followed for decades. One of her best moments was paying him a personal visit after he left office,” he said, noting that she also joins millions of Nigerians in mourning the leader.
Concluding the tribute, the former Naval Chief prayed for Allah’s mercy and for Buhari to be granted Aljannah Firdaus.
“Though his physical presence is no longer with us, his spirit lives on in every institution he strengthened, every reform he championed, and every life he touched,” Gambo said. “His family and Nigerians will find solace in the knowledge that he served his people with honour, left this world with dignity, and will forever be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders in our nation’s history.”
“His legacy is a light that will never fade, Insha Allah.”
President Muhammadu Buhari passed away on Sunday in London and was buried in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday, in accordance with Islamic rites. National mourning continues, with tributes pouring in from within Nigeria and across the globe.