Nigerians Will Never Forget Buhari’s Service — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigerians will never forget the life and service of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a leader whose patriotism, integrity and unwavering commitment to national development earned him a permanent place in the country’s history.

Tinubu made the remarks in Abuja during a special event marking the first anniversary of Buhari’s passing. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President said the late Nigerian leader lived a life that would continue to inspire generations of Nigerians.

According to Tinubu, he and Buhari shared years of political struggle, beginning from the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) through its emergence as Nigeria’s ruling party.

“We worked together through seasons of difficulty and seasons of hope. We shared a deep and abiding passion for a renewed, progressive and prosperous Nigeria—a nation held together by brotherhood, settled in peace and generous in abundance so that no citizen is left outside the circle of its promise,” he said.

The President said Buhari devoted everything he had to the service of Nigeria without seeking personal gain.

“He gave everything he had to this country, and he gave it without reservation. He served with courage, conviction and patriotism that never asked what the nation could return to him,” Tinubu stated, adding that Buhari’s journey from military leader to democratically elected president reflected his commitment to constitutional governance and nation-building.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to honour Buhari’s memory by embracing the values he exemplified throughout his public life, including honesty, simplicity, discipline and selfless service.

He noted that the greatest tribute citizens could pay the late former president was to uphold those ideals in their daily lives and continue working towards building a stronger and more united Nigeria.

Also speaking at the event, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, dismissed claims that Buhari governed only in the interest of Northern Nigeria, insisting that the late president served every part of the country with fairness and a strong sense of justice.

Gowon said Buhari’s integrity and commitment to national unity remained among his greatest legacies, adding that he consistently ensured that every state and region received equal attention during his administration.

The elder statesman also recalled Buhari’s role in the APC’s 2022 presidential transition, saying the former president wholeheartedly supported Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate in appreciation of the support Tinubu had given him during his own presidential ambition years earlier.

Chairman of the organising committee and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, described the remembrance as an opportunity to reflect on Buhari’s decades of public service and preserve the memory of a leader whose dedication to Nigeria shaped the country’s political history.

The memorial was attended by several dignitaries, including former First Lady Aisha Buhari, serving governors, traditional rulers and political leaders, all of whom paid tribute to the late former president’s enduring contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development and national unity.