Quest FM TV News, Daura – The rustic town of Daura, Katsina State, was enveloped in grief on Tuesday as the remains of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, were laid to rest with full military and Islamic honours. The cloud of sorrow over the agrarian hometown of the late leader mirrored the deep national mourning that followed his passing on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London, at the age of 82.
By 5:50 p.m., the body of the former Commander-in-Chief, wrapped in the symbolic green-white-green Nigerian flag, was lowered into the earth — a final farewell witnessed by grieving family members, close associates, and a nation in mourning.
The burial rites were conducted in accordance with Islamic tradition, preceded by solemn prayers and accompanied by the ceremonial grandeur accorded to a former head of state. Military personnel rendered a 21-gun salute, and a tuneful procession marked the final journey of the man who once held Nigeria’s highest office both as a military ruler (1984–1985) and a civilian president (2015–2023) — a combined leadership span of nearly a decade.
Buhari’s funeral attracted a distinguished list of mourners. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his immediate successor, led the federal delegation, receiving the late president’s body at Katsina Airport, after it was flown in from The London Clinic, where Buhari succumbed to a prolonged illness. Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and ex-VP Atiku Abubakar were also in attendance, alongside billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote, prominent traditional rulers, clerics, governors past and present, and top military brass.
At the heart of the ceremony stood Aisha Buhari, the widow of the late leader, who, alongside her children and extended family, bore the weight of the loss with visible sorrow.
Daura, the humble birthplace of Buhari, served as both the beginning and end of his remarkable journey. Revered by many in northern Nigeria as "Mai Gaskiya" — Hausa for “the truth-teller” — Buhari’s leadership style earned him a cult-like following, particularly for his perceived integrity and discipline.
Despite controversy and criticism during his administration, many Nigerians viewed him as a symbol of honesty in governance. His burial in Daura not only fulfilled his personal wish but also cemented his enduring connection to the people and soil of his hometown.
President Tinubu, in a brief tribute, described his predecessor as a "patriot, soldier, and statesman whose life was defined by service, discipline, and duty." He further pledged that the nation would honour Buhari’s legacy by strengthening democracy, security, and national unity — values the late leader championed throughout his life.
As the sun set over Daura, the mournful silence of the town was broken only by prayers and the sound of retreating footsteps. Nigeria had said goodbye to one of its most consequential post-independence leaders — a man whose legacy will continue to shape political discourse for generations to come.