The All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party, has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former leader, who died at the age of 82, served as Nigeria’s President from 2015 to 2023 under the platform of the APC.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, paid tribute to Buhari, describing his death as a great national loss. He lauded Buhari as an enigmatic leader, a revered elder statesman, and a model patriot whose life embodied resolve, resilience, discipline, and integrity.
According to Morka, “Nigeria has lost an enigmatic leader, an iconic elder-statesman, and an exemplary patriot whose life of dedicated service, resilience, discipline, and integrity will forever remain etched in the consciousness of this and future generations of Nigerians.”
The statement further praised the simplicity and dedication that defined Buhari’s public life. Morka noted that from Buhari’s early days in public service, notably as Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), through his tenure as a military Head of State, and later as a democratically elected two-term President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to national service. He added that Buhari’s contributions have left behind a formidable and inspiring legacy of leadership.
The APC highlighted Buhari’s remarkable political journey, stating that despite his background in military service, he emerged as an unlikely but pivotal democrat. His commitment to democratic ideals significantly contributed to the deepening and consolidation of Nigeria’s democratic governance.
The party also recalled Buhari’s political evolution, including his leadership of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and later his role in founding the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
This movement eventually merged with other opposition parties to form the APC in 2013, a landmark moment that reshaped Nigeria’s political landscape.
The APC mourned the departure of a leader whose life was defined by public service and nation-building. The party pledged that Buhari’s legacy would continue to inspire their vision for Nigeria’s progress and unity.
