General
Buhari: Tribute to a life of dedication
By Aminu Garko, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
The quiet town of Daura in Katsina State played host to the nation’s political elite on Tuesday as it bid farewell to its most accomplished son, Muhammadu Buhari, the nation’s immediate past president, ex-military Head of State, and retired Major-General.
The city hosted the nation’s political gladiators led by President Bola Tinubu, business moguls, top military brass, both serving and retired diplomats to pay their last respect to the late president.
The list of dignitaries also included Vice-President Kashim Shettima, former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau, and Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine of Niger Republic.
Other notable attendees include Service Chiefs, industrial leaders, former governors, a representative of the President of Chad, Islamic clerics, and other prominent personalities from within and outside Nigeria.
Buhari died at a London clinic on Sunday at the age of 82 after a protracted illness according to a statement by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu.
The announcement of the death of the erstwhile president came as a rude shock to many Nigerians as it was earlier said that he was recuperating.
Buhari’s remarkable journey in Nigeria’s political landscape began on July 29, 1975, when he was appointed Governor of the North-Eastern State.
On Feb. 3, 1976 the North Eastern State was split into Bauchi, Borno and Gongola and Buhari was appointed the first governor of Borno before his tenure was cut short by the coup that ousted Gen. Murtala Mohammed.
He later appointed Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources by the Olusegun Obasanjo-led junta and oversaw the establishment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) the most prominent player in Nigeria’s oil industry.
As a military leader, General Buhari demonstrated exceptional courage and strategic prowess, notably repelling Chadian troops from Nigerian territory during his tenure as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 3rd Division in Jos.
As Head of State (1984-1985), he showcased his leadership abilities. Later, as Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), he managed the fund judiciously, addressing infrastructural deficiencies and providing medical support services.
In 2015, on the ticket of All Progressives Congress (APC), Buhari emerged victorious in the presidential election after several attempts, having anchored his campaign on tough stance against corruption.
He relinquished power to Incumbent Bola Tinubu after reaching the ceiling of two tenures of eight years.
A true patriot and nationalist, President Buhari’s legacy is marked by discipline, capable leadership, honesty, and integrity.
His passing leaves a void, but his impact on Nigeria’s history remains profound.
Among those who paid tribute to the fallen hero was retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who toppled his regime in 1985.
“I’m deeply saddened by the sudden demise of my friend, brother, course mate, and fellow soldier.
“We shared a bond forged by military training and a commitment to service, discipline, and love for Nigeria.
“From our early days at the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna, Muhammadu stood out – quiet yet resolute, principled yet humble, deeply patriotic, and fiercely loyal.
“We shared experiences, dreams, and disappointments, but he remained consistent in his belief in integrity, order, and dignity of public office,’’ the retired military president said.
According to him, as a leader, Buhari served the nation with every sense of responsibility and unwavering commitment.
Beyond the public glare, I knew him as a deeply spiritual man, humble and guided by faith.
“Though we may not have agreed on everything, I never doubted his sincerity or patriotism.
“His passing is not just the loss of a former Head of State or President, but a symbol of Nigeria’s transition from the old guard to the new republic,’’ Babangida said.
Similarly, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, also a former military Head of State, described the late Buhari as a great patriot and statesman who greatly contributed to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development.
Abubakar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Monday that: “from God we came, and to Him we shall all return”.
He said that Buhari would be greatly missed by his family, friends, and indeed all Nigerians, and prayed for God’s repose of his soul.
“The death of President Buhari is a painful one, but who are we to question the will of Almighty Allah? We have lost an honest, sincere leader and a patriotic Nigerian at this critical time.
“May Allah forgive his shortcomings and give the family and indeed all Nigerians the strength to bear this loss,” Abubakar said.
He underscored Buhari’s efforts in fighting corruption during both his military and civilian administrations as well as implementing measures that significantly impacted Nigeria’s political and economic trajectories.
He praised Buhari as a detribalised Nigerian, consensus builder, and selfless leader who worked tirelessly to maintain the country’s unity.
Retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, describes late Buhari as a great patriot and statesman who significantly contributed to Nigeria’s development.
Similarly, Sen. Sani Musa expressed grief and shock over Buhari’s death, describing him as a great leader who leveraged his vast experience to serve the nation.
“Buhari’s life is widely regarded as exemplary and worthy of emulation,” Musa said.
Musa commended Buhari’s life as exemplary, marked by patriotism, good works, humility, and dedication to public service.
He highlights Buhari’s efforts in instilling discipline and combating corruption, adding that they left a lasting impact on Nigeria.
The lawmaker described him as a patriot, bridge-builder, and exceptional public servant who lived a modest life.
The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Sen. David Mark, expressed sadness over Buhari’s death, describing his legacy of selfless service as unparalleled.
“It’s sad that President Buhari passed away at this critical time, but we’re consoled that his legacy of keeping the nation united will endure,” Mark said.
Mark said Nigeria has lost a hero, an uncommon patriot, and a selfless leader who gave his all for the nation’s good.
He highlighted Buhari’s love for the country, especially its unity, as his greatest sacrifice.
If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria
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A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Gender Awareness Trust (GAT) has commended women across Katsina communities for their contributions towards promoting peace and security.
The GAT’s State Coordinator, Muhammad Maifada, made the commendation on Friday during a sensitisation exercise at the palace of the District Head of Shinkafi, Abdurashid Abubakar.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise was organised in collaboration with UK International Development, SPRING, and Tetra Tech International Development.
Maifada said that the sensitisation programme, which featured participation of about 13 community leaders, was part of activities to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day.
He noted that studies have shown the significant contributions women make in enhancing security within communities, particularly through the provision of vital information to security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
Maifada further emphasised that parents and religious leaders also have a vital role to play, noting that they were close to the people and serve as permanent community leaders.
According to him, they are in a strategic position to help promote peace, guide the public on security measures, and inform citizens on appropriate channels for reporting issues in order to protect their communities.
He, therefore, called on members of the public to understand that everyone had a role to play in ensuring security and peace, stressing that each individual could contribute in different ways toward safeguarding their communities.
According to Maifada, GAT supported Women peace and security implementation committee members to carry out community sensitisation to inclusive peace-building.
Maifada further revealed that GAT also operates in Kaduna, while in Katsina State its activities cover Batagarawa, Kaita, and Katsina Local Government Areas.
“Among the key activities of the organisation is raising community awareness on the importance of women’s participation, particularly in matters relating to security and peace-building.
“The organisation is also advocating against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), a menace that affects women and children in the state,” the Coordinator said.
In his remarks, the District Head, who is also the Turaren Katsina, expressed gratitude to God for the choice of his district to host the celebration marking the International Women’s Day.
He also acknowledged the positive impact of the organisation’s activities within the community and pledged continued support and cooperation to ensure sustained peace and security across Katsina state.
NAN
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Kano State Government says it is targeting the distribution of more than 3.5 million meals under its 2026 Ramadan feeding programme across the state.
The Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Chairman of the Ramadan Feeding Programme, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani, said this while inspecting designated cooking centres responsible for preparing and packaging meals for beneficiaries.
Tijani said the inspection was aimed at assessing hygiene conditions, quality of ingredients and the general cooking process at the centres.
According to him, the team focused on cooking facilities and packaging processes rather than distribution points.
“We visited some of the major contractors responsible for preparing large quantities of meals daily for the programme.
“One of the companies we inspected feeds about 25,000 people daily, while others also prepare between 13,000 and 25,000 meals each day,” he said.
He explained that the programme targets the preparation of about 115,000 meal packages daily throughout the 29 days of Ramadan.
The commissioner said the meals would be distributed across the eight metropolitan Local Government Areas of the state.
Tijani commended the contractors for maintaining good hygiene standards at the cooking centres.
“We inspected the kitchens, the environment and the packaging process to ensure that the food meets the required hygiene standards.
“We are satisfied with what we saw. The level of cleanliness and the quality of the food being prepared are commendable,” he said.
He added that government officials had intensified monitoring to ensure quality control throughout the programme.
According to him, the supervision has helped address earlier concerns about food quality recorded at the beginning of the exercise.
“For the past two weeks, we have been visiting different centres to monitor both the quantity and quality of meals being prepared,” he said.
Tijani also said the government had resolved cases where some individuals attempted to divert food meant for designated distribution centres.
He noted that the situation had been addressed in collaboration with local authorities, adding that such cases had reduced significantly.
The commissioner said the cooking centres were also complying with the dietary standards approved by the state government.
“We checked the ingredients being used, including cooking oil, seasoning and meat, and they meet the required standards,” he said.
Tijani described the 2026 Ramadan feeding programme as one of the most organised in the state, noting that the government would continue to monitor the exercise to ensure its success.
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A political support group, Tinubu/Dikko Assured (TDA 2027) has on Wednesday donated ₦11 million in cash and 95 bags of rice to party executives of the All Progressives Congress in Katsina.
The distribution, which took place in Katsina, was aimed at supporting party leaders and stakeholders during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Director-General and founder of the group, Umar Ahmad-Zayyad, said the distribution exercise would be supervised by members of the TDA State Steering Committee.
Represented by the TDA State Coordinator, Khalil Aminu, the D-G said the gesture was part of the group’s continued commitment to strengthening the party structure from the grassroots while supporting loyal party executives.
He further assured that the structure of the party in Katsina Local Government and the state in general, remains intact, adding that it had mobilised ahead of future political engagements.
Ahmad-Zayyad described the outreach as part of a sustained effort to consolidate party unity and reinforce grassroots mobilisation in line with the objectives of the Tinubu/Dikko 2027 Project.
He described Ramadan as a period of sacrifice, compassion and generosity, adding that the initiative was designed to cushion the economic burden on party officials and their families during the fasting period.
According to the breakdown provided at the ceremony, five bags of rice and ₦500,000 were distributed across each of the 12 Wards in Katsina Local Government Area.
In addition, 15 bags of rice and ₦2 million were presented to the Katsina Local Government Executives to support their activities and welfare.
Similarly, 20 bags of rice alongside ₦3 million were handed over to the State Party Executives as part of the broader intervention package.
Party leaders who received the items expressed appreciation to Ahmad-Zayyad for what they described as a timely and thoughtful intervention.
Other beneficiaries who spoke at the occasion pledged their continued loyalty and support to the party’s leadership at both the state and national levels.
NAN
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Katsina Statistician General donates N20m to students, Islamic preachers
Ethnic community leaders commend Nigerian Army’s security efforts in Kano
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