Former Principal General Staff Officer (Chief of Staff), State House, Maj-Gen Lawrence Onoja (rtd), has said he found former President Muhammadu Buhari to be an exceptionally good and dedicated soldier.

  In the same vein, former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd), described Buhari as a commander-in-chief who pursued the degrading and subduing of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

  Meanwhile, Northern Youth Frontiers (NYF) has commended President Bola Tinubu for his exemplary leadership and deep sense of national unity demonstrated during the funeral arrangements.

  Onoja, who served under Buhari as Commanding Officer (CO) Guards Battalion, when the late President was the Lagos Garrison Commander in Ikeja, told The Guardian that when Buhari was released from prison in 1988, he (Onoja) was tasked with looking after his welfare as Military Governor of Katsina State.

  The former military governor of Plateau and Katsina states lamented that Buhari’s passing came at a time when the country would have benefited from his experience and principles, stressing that “his zero tolerance for corruption” was unpretentious.

   While noting that the late President sacrificed a lot for the good of the nation, Onoja maintained that Nigeria lost an icon of integrity, even as he extended his condolences to Mrs Aisha Buhari, the former First Lady, and her family, the Daura Emirate as well as the government and people of Katsina.

The elder statesman described Buhari as an epitome of integrity, discipline, humility and a patriot whose love for Nigeria was undeniable and was demonstrated in the various roles he served the country in the course of his illustrious military career where he held many command positions as well as having served as a Head of State between 1983 and 1985, and later two terms of eight years from 2015 to 2023 as a democratically elected president of Nigeria.

  Onoja pointed to the courageous and tactical roles the former President played in the military during the Nigeria civil war in defence of the unity of Nigeria as a further testament to his love for the nation.

  On his part, Buratai, who was appointed by Buhari in 2015 to lead the Nigerian Army in the fight against insecurity, expressed gladness that the late President found in him someone who could decipher him and apply given directives to the latter.

Buratai was speaking in an interview with Voice of Nigeria as he and other high-ranking government officials await the arrival of the remains of Buhari for interment.

  The former Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic said he knew his commander-in-chief as one who was result-oriented, and he pursued the goals, delivered amid several challenges that were prevalent at the time, especially in the North-East theatre.

  The NYF also welcomed Tinubu’s directive for the national flag to be flown at half-mast for seven days, along with the declaration of a one-day national holiday in Buhari’s honour.

  In a statement by the National Coordinator, Sama Musa, the group praised Tinubu for conducting the late president’s final journey with dignity and respect, noting that it reflected the profound regard Buhari commanded and the strength of Nigeria’s unity during difficult times.

  NYF urged Nigerians to draw inspiration from Buhari’s vision for a better Nigeria and his belief in the nation’s potential.

  Musa said: “The passing of Muhammadu Buhari marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s history. As a leader, he devoted his life to the service of our great nation, advocating peace, security and economic development.

  “His tenure was characterised by a commitment to fighting corruption, enhancing national security, and promoting infrastructural growth. Buhari’s virtues of integrity, resilience and dedication to public service have left an indelible mark on the hearts of Nigerians and will continue to inspire future generations.”

  It also commended Tinubu’s decision to delegate a high-powered group led by Vice President Kashim Shettima to oversee the protocol for transporting the body of Buhari from London to Daura, describing it as a testament to his leadership acumen.

  “This delegation not only ensured that the logistics were handled with the utmost respect and efficiency but also exemplified the collaborative spirit that is essential for a nation to heal and unite in mourning.

  “As we reflect on the life and contributions of Buhari, we are reminded of his unwavering commitment to the Nigerian people. He was a leader who believed in the potential of our nation and worked tirelessly to uplift the lives of ordinary citizens, the group added.