Chief Bisi Akande, pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and former Governor of Osun State, has lauded former President Muhammadu Buhari for his patriotism, discipline, and enduring impact on Nigeria.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 20, during a visit to Buhari’s Kaduna residence, Akande described the late president as “a patriotic leader” whose contributions would outlive him.
“I first heard that he died when I was abroad. Before then, I met him in Daura after our feast. We had a nice time together.
“He was looking robust, he was healthy, very strong,” Akande recalled, emphasising the former president’s vitality during their last encounter.
He added that their conversation had been relaxed and jovial.
“In a joke, I said I was going back to my village. He too said he was enjoying his village in Daura. By the time he moved to Kaduna, I was planning to come and see him here, and they told me he had traveled,” he said.
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Reflecting on the shock of Buhari’s passing, Akande admitted, “I didn’t ask questions and I traveled though. But when I was abroad, I learned that he passed. Very painful, very, very painful.”
He stressed the former president’s lasting influence, saying, “He was a great Nigerian. He was patriotic. Maybe he was an angel coming in human flesh and he had done his bit. His spirit will continue to live forever because of the good work he did in Nigeria.”
Akande and his delegation, which included Senator Abu Ibrahim, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare, APC stalwart Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment Silas Agara, and Convener of the Arewa Think Tank Mohammed Alhaji Yakubu, met with former First Lady Aisha Buhari and eldest son Yusuf Buhari.
Yusuf Buhari thanked the delegation and President Bola Tinubu for their support during this difficult period, promising to uphold the values of integrity, discipline, and service that defined his father’s life.
“Our father lived by integrity, discipline, and service to Nigeria. We will continue to uphold those values and preserve his legacy,” he affirmed.
This visit highlighted the respect and admiration Buhari commanded among Nigeria’s political elite, reinforcing the impact of his leadership and enduring legacy.