By Joe Udo
DAURA (CONVERSEER) – Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest on Tuesday, 15th July 2025, in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, amid emotional scenes and tributes from across the political divide and the nation at large.
The late statesman, who passed away on Sunday in a London hospital after battling an undisclosed illness, was interred with full military honours and Islamic burial rites. Buhari, aged 82, was a prominent figure in Nigeria’s political landscape, having served first as military Head of State between 1983 and 1985, and later as democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023.
As soldiers fired a 21-gun salute into the Daura sky, family members, close allies and political leaders, many clad in black, gathered to pay their last respects. There were visible scenes of grief and reflection, with mourners recalling the legacy of a man whose influence spanned decades of national service.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who could not attend the burial in person due to ongoing state engagements, was represented by senior government officials. The Federal Government had earlier declared Tuesday a public holiday to honour Buhari’s passing. Similarly, the Katsina State Government observed a statewide holiday on Monday, 14 July, to allow residents mourn their illustrious son.
Among the dignitaries in attendance was former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a long-time political rival of Buhari. Despite their differences, Atiku joined others in Daura to bid farewell, describing the late former president as “a patriot who devoted his life to Nigeria”.
Buhari’s passing has evoked a mix of emotions across the country. While tributes from admirers and political allies have flooded traditional and social media, a segment of Nigerians have used memes and satire to express their views on his controversial legacy. However, poignant images from the burial — such as a man struggling to hold back tears and a grieving woman captured in silent mourning — reflect the profound impact Buhari had on many.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, who was visibly emotional at the burial, described Buhari as “an embodiment of the common man’s aspirations” and “a father figure whose footsteps I have tried to follow in public service.”
As Nigeria reflects on the life and times of Muhammadu Buhari, tributes continue to pour in from within and outside the country, acknowledging a figure whose political journey shaped contemporary Nigeria in profound ways.
