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Flags Fly Low, Prayers Rise High: Buhari’s Final Journey Captivates Nigeria
President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday led a long list of Nigeria’s political and business elite to Daura, Katsina State, for the final burial rites of former military Head of State and two-term civilian President, Muhammadu Buhari.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Tinubu personally received Buhari’s flag‑draped remains at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina at about 2:00 p.m., shortly after the aircraft conveying the late leader departed London earlier that morning. The plane used for the solemn flight was the same Presidential Aircraft Buhari had flown throughout his eight years in office.
The burial, conducted in line with Islamic rites by the Chief Imam of Daura, Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, drew international dignitaries, including President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea‑Bissau, Niger Republic’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine, and former Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou.
Also in attendance were former Vice Presidents Yemi Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; and prominent senators such as Kawu Sumaila, Abdulaziz Yari, Sani Bello, Abu Ibrahim, and Yariman Bakura.
Security chiefs present included the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; as well as former Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.), and former DSS boss, Yusuf Bichi.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda led the state delegation, alongside Deputy Governor Faruq Jobe, State Assembly Speaker Nasir Daura, Secretary to the State Government Abdullahi Faskari, and members of the Executive Council.
Federal Government officials at the event included Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters Ibrahim Masari; Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Isiaq Salako; and Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa. They were joined by Information Minister Mohammed Idris, Budget and Planning Minister Atiku Bagudu, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari, former Communications Minister Isa Pantami, and former Attorney‑General Abubakar Malami.
Also present were Kwara State Governor and NGF Chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, along with governors from Bauchi, Yobe, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Imo, and Cross River. Former governors, including Ibrahim Shema, Ali Modu Sheriff, Nasir El‑Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, and Yahaya Bello, also joined the mourning.
From the private sector, Aliko Dangote, Sayyu Dantata, and Dahiru Mangal were among the high-profile attendees, while traditional rulers such as the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Usman; the Emir of Daura, Umar Faruq; and the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, offered their respects.
The influx of dignitaries created an unprecedented level of air traffic, with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency recording over 130 landings and takeoffs at Katsina Airport between Monday and Tuesday.
President Tinubu, who arrived from Abuja at 1:42 p.m., inspected a guard of honour moments before the Nigerian Air Force jet carrying Buhari’s remains touched down at 1:51 p.m. Buhari passed away in a London hospital on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
Vice President Shettima, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, former First Lady Aisha Buhari, and other family members accompanied the late President’s remains back to Nigeria.
At the airport, Tinubu and other leaders—including Embaló, Zeine, Mahamadou, and Osinbajo—received the casket. A joint team of nine senior military officers served as pallbearers, including Major‑Generals Mohammed Usman, Oluwafemi Williams, and Shuaibu Nuhu; Rear Admirals Suleiman Dahun, Jonathan Ajodo, and Samuel Ngatuwa; Air Vice Marshals Adeniyi Herbert Amesinlola, Idi Sanni, and Obinna Obiabaka. Major General Mike Alechenu coordinated the team.
The pallbearers wheeled the flag‑draped casket in slow, measured steps to the hymn “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” passing through a full military guard of honour made up of six officers and 96 soldiers. President Tinubu and others followed behind in solemn procession as the casket was placed in a waiting military hearse for the one‑hour trip to Daura, where funeral prayers and final interment were held
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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