Muhammadu Buhari: Mourning A Man Who Walked The Corridors Of Power Without Being Seduced By It By Akinola Kazeem

A General — The Passing of Former President Muhammadu Buhari

The news of the passing of former President and Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, has left many Nigerians with a deep sense of loss.

For those who never truly understood the life and times of the Daura-born war General, it may be difficult to grasp the profound simplicity and uncommon discipline that defined his journey on earth. Even as Head of State and later as a democratically elected President of a complex nation like Nigeria, he chose to live humbly and with remarkable restraint.

As a Nigerian and an observer of his public and private life, I feel a great deal of admiration for how he consistently submitted himself to a life of modesty, self-control, and principle. Even at the highest levels of power, he remained grounded. You would hardly see him engaging in unnecessary laughter or the usual political melodrama and praise-singing. He shunned unnecessary attention and excessive celebration. That’s why those with that kind of values will often be misunderstood by a society that sometimes measures leadership by some levels of optics, of which Nigeria is a typical example. But in truth, behind that simple-look face was a man who deeply cared, who loved his country silently but sincerely.

Before his civilian presidency, Buhari served as Nigeria’s military Head of State between 1983 and 1985, a time marked by economic strain and political instability. Yet, he governed with firmness and a clear vision for discipline, accountability, and national reorientation. His War Against Indiscipline campaign, though strict, sought to instill values that had begun to erode. That brief but impactful era launched his image in the nation’s consciousness as a leader who meant business, one who would rather be feared for doing right than be praised for doing nothing.

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In 2015, years later, fate brought him back as a democratically elected President, making history as the first opposition candidate to defeat a sitting President in Nigeria. His administration, though not without its criticisms, remained consistent in his core philosophy: anti-corruption, national security, and infrastructural renewal. He led with calm, never losing his essence. His quiet patriotism, his stern refusal to be part of the excesses of governance, and his deep belief in service above self stood him out.

As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate a life lived with rare discipline and integrity. General Muhammadu Buhari has gone to rest — but his legacy remains. He has bowed out with the same dignity he carried through life, leaving behind memories of a man who walked the corridors of power without being seduced by it.

May Allah (SWT) grant him Aljanah Firdaus, forgive his shortcomings, and comfort the family and the nation he loved and served till the end. Nigeria has lost a statesman, a patriot, and a soldier of conscience. May his soul rest in peace.

Akinola Kazeem Akinjide 

APC House of Representatives Aspirant 

Egbeda l/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency