Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is personally pained by the passing of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

This is as he described Buhari’s demise as a major loss not only to the family of Buhari, the people of Daura, or the people of Katsina State, but to the nation and the entire African continent.

Shettima stated this on Wednesday after a brief prayer for the repose of the soul of Buhari at the deceased’s residence in Daura, Katsina State.

He said people from far and near have called to commiserate with President Tinubu over the death of Buhari at the age of 82 on Sunday.

Shettima prayed to Allah to grant the soul of the late former president eternal rest and reward him with Al-Jannah Firdaus and protect the family he left behind.

He said, “And in consultation with President Tinubu, the family of the late President Buhari and the Government of Katsina State, it was unanimously resolved that tomorrow (Thursday), by God’s grace, by noon, we shall all gather here to offer our prayers for the repose of the soul of the late president.”

The Vice President noted that the late former president was not an ordinary person, just as he said, Nigerians from all walks of life are still free to come and offer their condolences to the government and people of Katsina State.

Shettima said the Katsina State governor will be in the state, and members of the family of the late President will be in Daura to accept condolences.

“But the formal ceremony will come to an end tomorrow based on consultation between President Tinubu, the family of the late president and the governor of Katsina State,” Shettima said.

Earlier, the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, urged leaders at all levels to sustain the legacies of the late President Buhari by ensuring transparency, honesty and accountability in governance.

Also, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, extolled the virtues of the late former Nigerian leader.

On his part, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, said Buhari demonstrated a high sense of leadership and integrity.

Dignitaries present were the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); and the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud.

Others included the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Prince Shaibu Abubakar; Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Goronyo; 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi; former SGF, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Rufai Ahmed; former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, and former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai.

Also present were the former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Ali Pantami; former FCT Minister, Malam Musa Bello; the Emir of Daura, HRH, Alhaji Umar Farouk; and former Minister of Water Resources, Malam Suleiman Adamu, among others.

Obi, El-Rufai, Atiku at ex-president’s compound

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Kaduna State Nasir el-Rufai; presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi; and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, visited the grave of former President Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, on Wednesday.

The opposition leaders also visited Buhari’s family to condole with them.

Reacting to criticism over his absence at the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Obi urged Nigerians not to turn national moments of mourning into platforms for political attacks.

He said his inability to attend Tuesday’s event was due to logistics constraints, including lack of flight availability and airport restrictions tied to heightened security arrangements for visiting dignitaries.

“It was difficult to come yesterday (Tuesday) because there was no flight. Even if there was a flight, you couldn’t land in Katsina Airport—it was closed due to the presence of many dignitaries,” Obi said in an interview with Arise TV.

Buhari taught us good morals – Daughter

Late President Buhari’s daughter, Hadiza Mohammed, has said her father taught her and other siblings to be of good morals, not to take what belongs to others for themselves.

Popularly known as Nana, Hadiza, who spoke with newsmen Wednesday at her father’s private residence in Daura, Katsina State, recalled a particular teaching by her father on good moral behaviour which has stuck with her.

“I will not forget years ago when we were children, and we were asked by Baba to go buy exercise books. After buying the books, there was a change of N15 left.

“Instead of taking back the balance to our Baba, we decided to spend the money. We stopped at a shop and used the money to buy sweets.

“When we came back to the house, Baba asked us about the remaining change, and we told him we had spent it.

“He said to us, ‘You were supposed to come back and give me the change, and it’s left for me to choose to allow you to keep it or not.

“He then told us not to ‘eat what belongs to other people’, or ‘take what belongs to other people’, and we thank God for the good upbringing we received from Baba.”

Hadiza said her father lived a simple life that was devoid of materialism and he was a devout Muslim throughout his lifetime.

“Baba’s death is tragic. There’s no death that isn’t tragic or painful. But we thank Allah that Baba lived a very simple life, and this is the life that we would relate to some messengers of Allah,” she said.

“You know Baba is not an ambitious person, he’s a very simple person. As you can see, there’s nothing extraordinary about his house or his life. He’s a very simple person.

“We thank Allah for his simplicity, humility, uprightness, discipline, and all the good characters.

“I am confident Baba is in a better place. We are all on a journey, and some will arrive later, others will arrive tomorrow. May God help us to finish right.”

Why I can’t forget former President Buhari – Farida Waziri

Farida Waziri, former Executive Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has paid tribute to late former President Buhari, expressing why she could never forget the role he played in her life.

Waziri said in her condolence message on Wednesday in Abuja that the passing of former President Buhari has touched the hearts of millions across the nation.

She explained that it was under Buhari’s leadership that her rightful retirement rank as Assistant Inspector General of Police was rectified, stressing that the act alone spoke volumes of his character.

Firm but fair leader – Ex-CDS

A former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor (Rtd), on Wednesday described the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as a firm but fair leader.

Irabor, in a statement, said Buhari had the humility to yield to superior arguments when convinced by reason, especially on matters of national security.

“President Buhari was, in every sense, a good man. Before he appointed me as Chief of Defence Staff  on Jan 26, 2021, I had never met him personally,” he said.

Buhari never interfered in my work for 8 years – Masari

A former governor of Katsina State Aminu Bello Masari has paid glowing tribute to the late former president, describing him as a leader who upheld respect for boundaries in governance and never interfered in the affairs of his subordinates, even when they hailed from the same state.

Reflecting on their working relationship during Buhari’s administration in an interview aired on Radio France  international (RFI Hausa)  in Daura town, the ex-governor recalled how the former president returned to live in the same community after leaving office.

Buhari’s death, a great loss – Chinese President Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Wednesday, extended condolences to President Tinubu.

Xi said his passing is a great loss for Nigeria and the Chinese people, who considered him a valued friend.

He praised Buhari’s role in promoting national unity and progress, as well as his standing in the international community.

State House perm sec praises his uncommon dedication to nation building 

The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, has paid glowing tribute to the late former President Buhari, lauding him as an elder statesman who devoted his life to nation building.

Signing the condolence register at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, Fashedemi described Buhari as a visionary leader who prioritised the welfare of Nigerians, particularly the poor.

He said  President Bola Tinubu had directed that Condolence Registers be opened in all Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies as well as at Nigerian Embassies and Missions abroad.

Buhari was a pillar of leadership, accountability – RTEAN

The leadership and members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) also expressed sorrow over the passing of Buhari.

This was contained in a condolence message on Tuesday signed by the Deputy National President (Administration), Muhammad Abubakar Bishara.

The statement quoted the Executive National President of RTEAN, Dr. Musa Muhammad Maitakobi, as saying that the loss of the “revered statesman, patriot, and leader whose legacy of discipline, integrity, and national service left a lasting mark on the country.”

RTEAN described the late president as a pillar of leadership and accountability, whose lifetime dedication to the peace, unity, and progress of Nigeria will remain evergreen in the hearts of the people.

Also, a faith-based human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has reiterated its description of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as the Father of Modern Nigeria.

Baba Martins, Abdulyassar Abdulhamid, Seun Adeuyi (Abuja), Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba (Kaduna)