Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
Across Northern Nigeria, a palpable atmosphere of grief and solemn preparation has descended as the region prepares to receive the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The two-term leader and political icon, who passed away on Sunday after a prolonged illness, will be laid to rest in his ancestral home of Daura, Katsina State, with the federal and state governments coordinating elaborate burial arrangements.
The remains of the former President have departed London to Nigeria, for a State burial which was ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
A delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to land in Nigeria by 1:20pm on Tuesday.
The Federal Government, in collaboration with Katsina State, has constituted a high-powered burial committee jointly chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Katsina State Deputy Governor. Military units have begun ceremonial drills and parade rehearsals to honor the former military head of state and civilian president, with security forces preparing for the historic event.
Federal Government’s Burial Committee
In Damaturu and Kaduna, an unusual quietness has replaced the normal bustle of daily life as special prayer sessions commenced at prominent mosques, including the Mallam Ibrahim Damaturu Juma’at Mosque.
“Our hearts are heavy,” said Garba Habu, a Damaturu resident, his voice thick with emotion. “The entire community waits in solemn reflection, preparing to receive our leader’s remains and accord him the full Islamic rites he deserves.”
Streets of Damaturu
Aminu Bala, a Kaduna resident said “We have lost a man of unshakable integrity. While our hearts ache at his passing, we submit to divine will. May Allah grant Baba Buhari aljannah firdaus. He was an epitome of righteousness in leadership.”
In Kano, reactions reflect the simple and complex legacy of the former leader. Some businesses have shut temporarily as proprietors prepare to journey to Daura.
“We haven’t opened our shops today,” disclosed a Kano textile merchant Sadik Musa. “Many of us plan to travel to Daura to pay our final respects to the man who served our nation.”
At the heart of preparations, Federal Polytechnic Daura’s Mohammed Yusuf reports an unprecedented gathering: “Daura is already filled with mourners from across the nation. Family members, political associates, and ordinary citizens all wait patiently to bid farewell to the beloved leader before his final journey to the grave.” The historic town is being transformed into a center of national mourning; its streets lined with security personnel and volunteers preparing for the arrival of the presidential convoy.
The same scenario in the North is also playing out in Southern Nigeria with citizens observing the public holiday declared by the Federal Government to honour the late former President. Streets are deserted while schools, banks, private and public establishment are also closed as the nation mourns it immediate past president.
As the nation counts down to the burial ceremonies, this moment represents both a profound loss for northern Nigeria and a historic transition. The final homecoming of a man who shaped the nation’s political landscape for decades, now returning to the soil of his ancestors for eternal rest.
Rest in Jannatul firdaus Baba Buhari”, said Abubakar Mohammed a Katsina resident.
The 82-year-old politician served as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985.
Buhari was appointed Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund in 1994 by the Sani Abacha regime, overseeing major infrastructure interventions across the country.
He contested the presidency three times unsuccessfully, in 2003, 2007, and 2011, before clinching victory in 2015 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, defeating then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
He was re-elected in 2019 and completed his second term in 2023.
Buhari’s 2015 inauguration marked a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic history, as it was the first time an opposition candidate unseated a sitting president through the ballot.
Throughout his service, he was decorated with several honours including the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, Commander of the Federal Republic, and military medals such as the Defence Service Medal, National Service Medal,and the Forces Service Star.
Buhari’s death marks a significant turn in Nigerian politics given the clout he pulled in the North. For the North, it is the loss of a leader who, despite controversies, commanded unwavering loyalty.