NIGERIA, ABUJA – Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has paid glowing tribute to late President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as “a sentinel of duty” and urging leaders to emulate his principled governance.
Speaking during a special session of the expanded Federal Executive Council meeting, Akpabio noted, “There are moments in the life of a nation when she must pause, not out of routine, but out of reverence. Today is such a moment.”
He reflected on Buhari’s legacy, acknowledging that while he was not without flaws, the former president exemplified “Spartan simplicity and austere integrity” throughout his years in power.
Akpabio, who served under Buhari as a minister, said he witnessed the former president’s disciplined and unpretentious leadership style firsthand. “He was not flamboyant, far from it. His voice was measured. His steps, deliberate,” he recalled.
He emphasized Buhari’s commitment to national service, first as a military officer and later as a civilian president. “Whether clad in khaki or in agbada… he never wavered in his belief in the promise of Nigeria,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President stressed that Buhari’s impact extended beyond policies. “He did not merely pass through the corridors of power; he left his boots and his imprints in them,” he said, urging current and future leaders to prioritize nation-building over personal gain.
Akpabio further described Buhari as “a soldier who did not flinch under fire” and “a leader who did not flee from responsibility,” underscoring his unshakable patriotism and disciplined governance.
ALSO READ: Buhari’s Chief of Staff Reveals How Inner Circle Hijacked Presidential Power
While acknowledging that Buhari had critics, Akpabio said even they could not deny his incorruptibility. “He did not pilfer the nation’s purse, nor pander to its pleasures,” he stated.
He called on Nigerians to reflect on the late president’s legacy in light of the country’s current challenges. “Greatness is not always loud,” he noted, warning against the erosion of values in public service.
Concluding his tribute, Akpabio prayed for Buhari’s soul and reaffirmed faith in Nigeria’s resilience. “Let it be said by generations to come that a man once walked this land with an iron sense of duty. His name was Muhammadu Buhari.”