Former Vice Presidents Yemi Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar, alongside prominent political and business figures, have arrived in Katsina State for the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London at the age of 83.
The late former president, a revered figure for his anti-corruption crusade and conservative governance style, will be laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, amid high-level security and a massive turnout of mourners.
A heavy security presence was deployed across Katsina State, particularly in Daura, where the funeral rites will be held. Personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigerian Army manned major roads and public venues. Traffic diversions and crowd control measures were put in place to manage the influx of thousands of mourners trooping in to pay their last respects.
Early arrivals included former Vice Presidents Yemi Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and former Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
Also present were a host of former governors: Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), and Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno).
Business mogul Aliko Dangote, former Minister of Communications Isa Pantami, and former Minister of Women Affairs Pauline Tallen were also spotted among the dignitaries.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had earlier issued a national directive honoring the late leader, is expected to join the funeral proceedings later today, along with top religious leaders and traditional rulers.
Speaking at the gathering, many attendees described Buhari as a man who shaped Nigeria’s political and economic landscape.
“Sheikh Usman Bello,” a prominent Islamic cleric at the funeral, remarked, “President Buhari served with discipline and integrity. We are gathered to ask Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdaus.”
Residents and political associates alike expressed grief over the former president’s passing. Ibrahim Adamu, a local trader who travelled from Gombe, described Buhari as a “father figure who never compromised his principles, even when his policies were unpopular.”
Buhari, who first led Nigeria as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985 before returning as a democratically elected president in 2015, will be remembered for his anti-corruption fight, infrastructural reforms, and conservative fiscal policies.
Though critics accused him of economic mismanagement and alleged human rights abuses, supporters hailed his administration for its fight against graft and insurgency. His death has reignited conversations about his political legacy and Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.
The funeral prayers will follow Islamic rites and are being coordinated by Islamic scholars and local authorities in Daura. Thousands of ordinary Nigerians have joined the dignitaries, reflecting Buhari’s strong grassroots following, especially in the North.
As the day progresses, more political figures and global leaders are expected to issue condolence messages, while international delegations may attend the later stages of the burial ceremonies.