President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday evening presided over a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session in honour of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, in London following a prolonged illness.
The solemn event, held at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja, drew a distinguished audience that included top government officials, National Assembly leaders, and current cabinet members.
In attendance were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, among other dignitaries.
President Tinubu arrived at approximately 5:27 p.m., joining a hall that had already filled with ministers and high-ranking government officials. The session began with the national anthem, followed by a heartfelt tribute delivered by the President.
Describing Buhari as a leader defined by dignity and simplicity, Tinubu said,
“President Muhammadu Buhari 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.”
The President praised Buhari’s commitment to service, calling him “a good man, an honourable man, and a decent man,” and lauded his patriotism as “lived more in action than in words.”
The former president, who served two terms from 2015 to 2023, was buried on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in accordance with Islamic rites.
In separate tributes, Vice President Kashim Shettima described Buhari as one of “Africa’s greatest sons,” while Minister of Works David Umahi reflected on the late leader’s national impact and personal interactions.
The FEC session is part of an ongoing national mourning period, with many Nigerians, from political allies to everyday citizens, reflecting on the life and legacy of the man who once vowed to fight corruption, restore security, and reshape Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
