Chief Bisi Akande, the pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Osun State, praised the late former President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday as an angel in human flesh, claiming that his legacy of nation-building would remain.
Akande, who led a group of political associates to Kaduna to express condolences to the Buhari family, described Buhari’s death as a “painful personal loss” that severely affected him.
He described his last interaction with the late president in Daura, Katsina State, and noted that Buhari appeared “healthy and strong,” with no signs of impending death.
“I first heard that he died when I was abroad. Before then, I met him in Daura after our feast.
“We had a nice time together. He was looking robust; he was healthy and very strong,” Akande recounted.
Akande added that their conversation on that occasion was light-hearted.
“In a joke, I said I was going back to my village. He too said he was enjoying his village in Daura. By the time he moved to Kaduna, I was planning to come and see him here, and they told me he had travelled,” he said.
According to the APC chieftain, the sudden news of Buhari’s passing caught him by surprise.
“I didn’t ask questions, and I travelled through. But when I was abroad, I learnt that he passed. Very painful, very, very painful,” he lamented.
He stated that upon returning to Nigeria, his first duty was to pay a condolence visit to the family.
“When I came back, I thought the first thing I should do is to come and meet the family, commiserate with them and pray with them. And that’s what I have come here to do today,” he said.
Akande paid passionate tribute to the former president, characterising him as a rare Nigerian leader whose legacy would endure.
“He was a great Nigerian. He was patriotic. Maybe he was an angel coming in human flesh, and he had done his bit. He had passed,” he said.
The APC leader stated that Buhari’s legacy of service, ethics, and discipline will continue to inspire Nigerians.
“His spirit will continue to live forever because of the good work he did in Nigeria,” he said.
The condolence delegation led by Akande included Senator Abu Ibrahim, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare, APC stalwart Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment Silas Agara, and Mohammed Alhaji Yakubu, Convener of the Arewa Think Tank.
They were met at the late president’s Kaduna home by the former First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, and the family’s eldest son, Yusuf Buhari.
In his reaction, Yusuf thanked Akande and his entourage for supporting the family at what he characterised as their “most difficult moment”.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu for securing the late Buhari’s proper funeral and dignified send-off.
“We are grateful to President Tinubu for standing with us and giving our father the honour he deserved. We also appreciate all Nigerians for their prayers, their messages, and their visits. The support we have received has been overwhelming, and we do not take it for granted,” Yusuf said.
He promised that the family would retain the principles of patriotism and sacrifice that Buhari embodied throughout his life.
“Our father lived by integrity, discipline, and service to Nigeria. We will continue to uphold those values and preserve his legacy,” he said.
