The pioneer national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Osun state, Chief Bisi Akande, has described the late President Muhammadu Buhari as “a patriotic leader” whose spirit will live forever because of his good works for Nigeria.
Akande, who led a delegation of political associates to Kaduna on Wednesday to condole with the Buhari family, said the former president’s passing was a painful personal loss.
He recalled their last meeting in Daura before Buhari relocated to Kaduna, saying, “I first heard that he died when I was abroad. Before then, I met him in Daura after our feast. We had a nice time together. He was looking robust, he was healthy, very strong,” Akande said.
The elder statesman said their conversation on that occasion gave no hint of death.
“In a joke, I said I was going back to my village. He, too, said he was enjoying his village in Daura. By the time he moved to Kaduna, I was planning to come and see him here, and they told me he had travelled,” he recalled.
According to him, the news of Buhari’s passing came as a shock.
“I didn’t ask questions, and I travelled through. But when I was abroad, I learned that he had passed. Very painful, very, very painful,” Akande lamented.
He explained that his first duty on returning to Nigeria was to visit Kaduna and commiserate with the family.
“When I came back, I thought the first thing I should do was to come and meet the family, commiserate with them and pray with them. And that’s what I have come here to do today,” he said.
Akande hailed Buhari’s legacy, describing him as a rare leader. “He was a great Nigerian. He was patriotic. Maybe he was an angel coming in human flesh, and he had done his bit. He had passed,” he said.
He stressed that Buhari’s influence would endure long after his death. “His spirit will continue to live forever because of the good work he did in Nigeria,” Akande declared.
The condolence delegation included Senator Abu Ibrahim, former Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, APC chieftain Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, Mr Silas Agara, and Convener of the Arewa Think Tank, Mohammed Alhaji Yakubu.
They were received at the Kaduna residence of the late president by former First Lady Hajiya Aisha Buhari and the eldest son of the family, Yusuf Buhari.
In his response, Yusuf Buhari expressed deep appreciation to Chief Bisi Akande and his entourage for their solidarity with the family at such a painful moment.
He also conveyed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring a befitting burial and dignified send-off for his father.
“We are grateful to President Tinubu for standing with us and giving our father the honour he deserved. We also appreciate all Nigerians for their prayers, their messages, and their visits. The support we have received has been overwhelming, and we do not take it for granted,” Yusuf said.
He assured that the Buhari family would continue to uphold the values of integrity, discipline, and service that the late President stood for, while keeping alive his legacy of patriotism and sacrifice.
