By Peter Omopo
July 18, 2025 | Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the renaming of the University of Maiduguri in Borno State to Muhammadu Buhari University, in honour of the late former president, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who died on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 82.
The announcement was made on Thursday at the Aso Rock Villa, during a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session convened to pay tribute to the late Nigerian leader.
“May we now adopt the University of Maiduguri as the Muhammadu Buhari University,” President Tinubu declared at the close of the session, to a standing ovation from cabinet members and dignitaries in attendance.
The renaming is one of several national honours being rolled out to immortalize Buhari, whose legacy, according to Tinubu, will “endure for generations.”
“A Good Man, An Honourable Man”
In an emotional address, President Tinubu described Buhari as “a good man, a decent man, an honourable man,” who embodied discipline, patriotism, and moral rectitude throughout his military and political career.
“President Buhari was not a perfect man—no leader is—but he was, in every sense of the word, a good man,” Tinubu said. “His record will be debated, as all legacies are, but the character he brought to public life, the incorruptible standard he represented, will not be forgotten.”
Tinubu praised Buhari’s leadership style, humility, and resistance to the trappings of power, noting that he remained “unmoved by the temptations of power, unseduced by applause, and unafraid of the loneliness that often visits those who do what is right.”
A Political Alliance That Changed Nigeria
The president also reflected on their historic political alliance that led to the 2015 general elections, which marked Nigeria’s first democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.
“We stood together, he and I. Alongside others from across the political spectrum, we formed an alliance that enabled Nigeria to experience its first true democratic transition,” Tinubu said.
He praised Buhari’s governance style as one marked by restraint, dignity, and a strong sense of duty.
“When his tenure ended, he returned to Daura, not to command from the shadows, but to live as he always had. Never imposing, never grasping for power behind the scenes. He remained a silent patriot,” Tinubu added.
A Quiet Passing, A National Loss
Tinubu noted that even in death, Buhari retained the composure and serenity that had defined his public life.
“Not a sigh, not a groan—just quiet submission to the will of God. Such was the man Nigeria has lost,” he said.
He also acknowledged the swift efforts of the Inter-Ministerial Committee and Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, in organising a state burial within 48 hours of Buhari’s death. Tinubu called it a “profound honour” to have led the funeral procession in Daura.
National Farewell
Concluding his tribute, Tinubu offered a heartfelt prayer:
“Mai Gaskiya, the People’s General, the Farmer President, your duty is done. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. May your life continue to inspire generations of Nigerians to serve with courage, conviction, and selflessness. President Buhari, thank you. Nigeria will remember you.”
Buhari’s death has triggered a national outpouring of grief and tributes, with flags flown at half-mast and condolence registers opened at Nigerian embassies and consulates around the world.
