Nigeria’s pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has expressed profound shock over the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a leader whose role in Nigeria’s history remains indelible.
In a statement released on Monday by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Ezechi Chukwu, Ohanaeze noted that Buhari, who died in a London hospital on July 13, 2025, at the age of 82, had served the country at critical junctures in its development.
“President Muhammadu Buhari was a leader who contributed his quota to the Nigerian project at different times when duty called,” said the President General of Ohanaeze, Senator Azuta Mbata. “His life was defined by duty and national service.”
Ohanaeze’s statement paid tribute to Buhari’s many years in public service, highlighting his tenure as Military Head of State from 1983 to 1985, Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund under General Sani Abacha, and his historic return to power as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
“Whether as a military leader, administrator of national development funds, or a civilian president, Buhari’s name is woven into the fabric of Nigeria’s governance history,” Mbata stated. “The history of the country is incomplete without him.”
The organisation called on Nigerians across religious and ethnic lines to offer prayers for the peaceful repose of the late president’s soul and asked God to grant comfort to his family, loved ones, and supporters.
In the wake of Buhari’s death, several government institutions have taken steps to honour the former leader. The national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced a three-day closure of its secretariat, while state chapters have lowered flags to half-mast in mourning.
Buhari, a native of Daura in Katsina State, was known for his austere personal style and strong anti-corruption stance during both his military and civilian tenures. His presidency, though marked by mixed public opinion, saw major developments in infrastructure, agriculture, and efforts to curb fuel smuggling.
Ohanaeze’s tribute is particularly notable given the complex relationship between Buhari’s administration and parts of the Southeast during his presidency. However, the group’s leadership emphasised that moments of mourning should transcend politics and reflect on a leader’s lifetime of service.
“President Buhari may have had his critics, but his dedication to Nigeria was never in question,” Mbata concluded. “In death, we must all reflect on the unity and peace of our nation, which he tirelessly spoke of.”
As Nigeria prepares for the former president’s state funeral, tributes continue to pour in from political leaders, civil society organisations, and international partners.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to lead a high-powered delegation to London to coordinate with Buhari’s family for the repatriation of his remains and arrangements for a national burial ceremony in Abuja.
