Buhari died on Sunday, July 13, in a clinic in London, following a prolonged illness.

Ndume said Buhari was a mentor who inspired him with his simplicity, integrity, and devotion to national service.

“This evening, I received with profound shock the news of the passing of former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR),” he said in a statement.

“The late president was a man I held in the highest regard — not merely as a statesman, but as a father figure and mentor whose simplicity, integrity, and commitment to national service deeply inspired me.”

Ndume said their bond was rooted in mutual respect and cultural familiarity, noting that their banter often reflected shared Fulani-Kanuri traditions.

“Those who witnessed our interactions often mistook me for a Kanuri man, as we frequently exchanged playful banter drawn from Fulani-Kanuri cultural traditions,” he said.

“In President Buhari, I have lost not just a leader, but a personal pillar, a man who believed in my potential and encouraged me at critical points in my journey.”

The senator recalled his last visit to Buhari in Daura, describing it as a moment filled with warmth, humour, and wise counsel that he will never forget.

“His warmth, humour, and wise counsel remain etched in my memory,” Ndume said.