We gather today in solemn reverence to honour the memory of a man whose life and legacy are deeply woven into the fabric of our republic. In this very chamber where he once presided with purpose and principle, we remember President Muhammadu Buhari — a sentinel of service, a steward of simplicity, and a statesman shaped by sacrifice.

President Buhari was no ordinary figure in our national journey. He embodied quiet strength, moral clarity and an unshakable sense of duty. At a time when society was seduced by materialism, he chose a life of modest means and meaningful service. He was devoted to family and steadfast in his Islamic faith. His humour and humility softened his disciplined exterior.

Buhari’s belief in the brevity of life and the certainty of judgment shaped his ascetic lifestyle and guided his public conduct. He lived not for applause or affluence but for principle, for country and for the cause of a better Nigeria.

To me, he was more than a leader. He was a mentor, a moral compass and a source of guidance. My political journey began in 2011, under the banner of the Congress for Progressive Change, a party built on his credibility and character. A few years after my election, he honoured me by commissioning some of my constituency projects, making me the first Member of the House of Representatives under the CPC to receive such recognition.

I remember him in the blazing sun of Zaria, standing shoulder to shoulder with the people he so deeply loved. It was a quiet moment that spoke volumes. Years later, in 2023, during a brief meeting in the United Kingdom, he warmly welcomed me following my election as Speaker. His counsel was clear: lead as a servant, never as a master. Those words, simple yet profound, have remained my compass.

In public office, President Buhari was a true partner in democracy.

He respected the independence of the legislature and urged his ministers to engage constructively with parliament. He signed into law several landmark bills that opened political space to young people, strengthened our electoral processes and laid the foundation for economic reform. His development vision reached beyond the present and into the future. The roads, railways and bridges he built are lasting gifts to generations yet unborn.

His war against corruption was unrelenting. Known to millions as Mai Gaskiya, the honest one, he lived a life free from personal scandal. His simple lifestyle was not symbolic. It was sincere. His integrity set a standard that will long outlive him. Whether as a military officer, a state governor, a federal minister or a democratically elected president, he brought to every office the same disciplined devotion to duty.

To those who criticised him from afar, I ask: did you truly see him, hear him or know him? Did you witness the passion in his voice when he spoke of Nigeria, or the pride in his eyes when he spoke of our people? For if you did, you would respect and honour him. He was not a man of many words, but his words carried weight. His dreams for Nigeria were vast, his commitment to its progress unshakeable. He embodied the best in us as a people: our relentlessness, resilience, love of God and charity to our neighbours.

As we mark the end of his earthly journey, we also mark the close of a defining chapter in our nation’s story. But his example endures: integrity as the soul of leadership, simplicity in power, patriotism above self-interest, unity in diversity and resilience in adversity. He gave Nigeria everything he had – from the youthful strength of a young soldier to the wisdom of an elder statesman. He never clung to power. He never sought personal reward. He served, and he stepped aside when his time was up.

Let us honour his life not only with words but also with a renewed commitment to the values he cherished. Farewell, Baba Buhari. Nigeria salutes your service. And history, in its final judgement, will remember you kindly.