The President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has paid glowing tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a principled leader and a patriot who gave his all in service to the nation.

Senator Akpabio spoke during a special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) convened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to honour the life and legacy of President Buhari, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London following a brief illness.

“He gave everything he had to a country that asked everything of him,” Akpabio said. “President Muhammadu Buhari was not perfect—no leader is—but he was a very principled man. He stood by his convictions, often at great personal cost, and remained committed to the integrity of the nation.”

The solemn FEC tribute session brought together top-ranking government officials, former aides, ministers, governors, and members of the National Assembly who gathered to reflect on Buhari’s decades-long contribution to Nigeria, both as a military Head of State and a democratically elected President.

President Tinubu, who presided over the session, described Buhari’s passing as a “national loss”, acknowledging the profound impact he had on Nigeria’s political evolution.

“He was respectful without pretence to his peers. He was kind to those who served under him. Even in death, he maintained the serenity that defined him in life,” Tinubu said.
“His patriotism was lived more in action than in words. The authority of office never changed him in the face of crisis. He was, in every sense of the word, a good man—an honorable man and a decent man.”

Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s President from 2015 to 2023, died in London after battling an undisclosed illness. His remains were flown to Nigeria and laid to rest in Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday, July 15, according to Islamic rites.

Throughout his tenure, Buhari was known for his firm stance on anti-corruption, discipline in governance, and austere personal lifestyle. While his leadership style drew mixed reactions, many continue to regard him as a man of integrity who sought to reform Nigeria’s political system from within.

The FEC session concluded with a moment of silence in Buhari’s honour and a solemn rendition of the national anthem. Flags across federal buildings have been flown at half-mast, in line with the national mourning declared by the Presidency.

As tributes pour in from across the country and the international community, Senator Akpabio’s words resonate deeply—reminding the nation of the values Buhari stood for and the sacrifices he made.