Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
A profound silence has blanketed Northern Nigeria, where mourning has taken on a communal rhythm following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The 82-year-old statesman, who returned to his hometown of Daura after leaving office in 2023, was confirmed dead on Sunday at a London hospital after a prolonged illness.
From the crowded streets of Kano and Kaduna to the quieter corners of Yobe, Jigawa, and Borno States, an air of sorrow hangs heavy. In homes, mosques, and marketplaces, Northerners are grieving not just a leader, but a political father figure who embodied their aspirations for decades.
In Potiskum and Biu, businesses shut down spontaneously. Across Borno State, plans were underway among scores of loyalists to travel to Daura for the former president’s final rest. Flags fly at half-mast in Katsina State, where the government declared Monday a public holiday in honour of their most prominent son.
Alhaji Sani Daura, a longtime associate of the late president, told The Journal Nigeria in a phone call:
“The North has lost its last political giant. Buhari was more than a leader—he was a symbol of our hope. We pray for Allah’s infinite mercy upon him.”
From Kano, a taxi driver, Mallam Haruna, echoed a sentiment that reverberated throughout the region:
“We may never see another like him. Love him or hate him, Buhari was ours.”
The former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress and governor of Yobe State also issued a tribute, calling Buhari “a true patriot, a national figure who embodied discipline, resilience, and visionary leadership. He brought the way forward to development. May he rest in peace.”
Sunday Oye, a former aide to the late Ahmed Gulak, who once served as Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, described Buhari via WhatsApp as “a leader par excellence.”
“He strived for Nigeria. I commend his ambition to return to farming (‘A koma gona’). Thanks to him, our people have embraced agriculture once again. May Allah forgive his shortcomings.”
Born in 1942, Muhammadu Buhari first rose to national prominence as a military officer. He became Nigeria’s Head of State from January 1984 to August 1985 after a coup that unseated the civilian government. Known for his strict anti-corruption stance and disciplined governance, he would later serve as Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund under the Sani Abacha regime in the mid-1990s, overseeing critical infrastructure interventions.
Buhari contested the presidency three times unsuccessfully—in 2003, 2007, and 2011—before securing victory in 2015 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress. His election, which saw him defeat incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, marked the first time in Nigeria’s history that power changed hands peacefully through the ballot box.
He was re-elected in 2019 and completed his second term in 2023.
Throughout his years of service, Buhari earned numerous honours, including the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), and multiple military distinctions such as the Defence Service Medal, National Service Medal, and Forces Service Star.
While opinions about his legacy remain divided—especially on issues of security, economy, and inclusivity—there is no denying the influence he wielded. To many in the North, Buhari’s name invoked loyalty, pride, and identity.
Now, with his passing, the region stands still in sorrow. A chapter in Nigeria’s political history has closed.
For millions who called him Baba, he was not just a president, he was theirs.