By Usman Ishaq Shehu
PhD Candidate | Editor in Chief, J.O.Comms | Public Affairs Analyst & Strategic Communicator
Yesterday Nigeria lost a statesman, a patriot and a symbol of discipline and integrity. The death of President Muhammadu Buhari marks the end of an era not just for the country but for many of us who looked forward to learning from him in his quiet years after public service.
For me this loss is especially personal. I had long hoped and prayed for the opportunity to meet Baba Buhari after he left office not to discuss politics but to say thank you. To thank him for the sacrifices he made, the discipline he embodied and the example he set even when it was not popular.
That meeting was not meant to be.
President Buhari’s life was marked by duty. From the battlefield to the presidency he carried the weight of Nigeria with a soldier’s resolve and a patriot’s heart. Whether you agreed with his methods or not no one could question his commitment to Nigeria’s unity and survival.
He was a man who lived simply, governed with restraint and led with conviction. In an age of noise he often chose silence. In an era of excess he chose modesty. And in a world of shortcuts he stood for discipline even when it made him lonely.
As a young Nigerian I wanted to learn from him not just the president but the man behind the title. I imagined sitting with him, listening to the stories behind his silences and understanding the burdens he bore in service to us all.
Now that conversation must wait until eternity.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his service and grant him the highest place in Jannah. And may we the living carry forward his legacy not of perfection but of principle.
Rest in peace Baba.
