President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, the esteemed leader of the Tijjaniyya Muslim Brotherhood and one of Nigeria’s most influential Islamic scholars, who died on Thursday at the age of 101.
In a heartfelt message issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the late cleric as a “moral compass” whose life of unwavering devotion to teaching, preaching, and spiritual guidance impacted millions across Nigeria and beyond.
Tinubu reflected on the personal role Sheikh Bauchi played during a pivotal point in his political journey, recalling the cleric’s prayers and moral support ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
“Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was a teacher, a father and a voice of moderation and reason,” the President said. “As both a preacher and a notable exegete of the Holy Quran, he was an advocate of peace and piety. His death has created a huge void.”
Sheikh Bauchi, revered for his scholarship, modesty and commitment to peaceful coexistence, spent decades spreading Islamic knowledge and shaping religious thought, becoming one of the most respected figures within the global Tijjaniyya community. His passing, Tinubu noted, is a profound loss not only to his family and followers but to the entire nation.
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The President extended condolences to the cleric’s vast community of disciples across Nigeria and beyond, urging them to honour his memory by upholding the values he embodied — devotion to God, compassion towards humanity, and harmony among diverse groups.
“As we mourn, we must also reflect on the virtues he lived by,” Tinubu said, calling on followers to “immortalise his legacy by strengthening their relationship with God and fostering peace wherever they find themselves.”
Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s death marks the end of a monumental chapter in Nigeria’s religious history, leaving behind a legacy of scholarship, mentorship and moral leadership that will endure for generations.