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Nigeria is mourning the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a towering figure in the country’s political landscape whose legacy—complex, controversial, yet enduring—continues to ignite deep national reflection.

In life, Buhari was known for his stoic discipline, austere personal style, and a brand of politics that was both uncompromising and intensely personal. In death, tributes have flowed from all corners of the country, across party lines and levels of government, highlighting a legacy that continues to shape Nigeria’s democratic journey and institutional development.

One of the most profound reflections came from his longtime spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, who in a deeply personal tribute titled “We Will All Be Less Without Buhari”, wrote:

“Muhammadu Buhari was the rarest of individuals to grace political life anywhere in the world: an incorruptible servant of the people… He was not motivated by pride, or by riches—the accumulation of which repelled him.”

Shehu traced Buhari’s commitment to Nigeria back to his days as a military officer, highlighting how his sense of duty remained consistent through decades of public service—first as military head of state, then later as a civilian president who came to office on the wave of democratic revolution.

“Without Buhari’s refusal to back down, the disparate democratic opposition may never have united, and there would be no true multi-party system in Nigeria today.”

Indeed, it was Buhari’s resilience across four presidential campaigns that ultimately saw him defeat an incumbent in 2015, marking Nigeria’s first peaceful transition of power from one political party to another.

Shehu further wrote:

“Muhammadu Buhari led a life full enough for many men. He will be remembered best by his own words: ‘I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody’. He was the best of Nigeria, and we are all less without him.”

ALGON: “We Are Grateful”

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) led the charge in celebrating Buhari’s contributions to grassroots governance. In a detailed statement signed by National President Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal, ALGON praised the late president for promoting local government autonomy, particularly through Executive Order 10, which sought to ensure direct allocation of funds to local councils.

“His leadership has left a lasting impact on the nation’s local government system… It remains one of the landmark achievements of his administration, representing a policy paradigm shift towards a more people-friendly leadership structure,” ALGON said.

ALGON also recognized Buhari’s push for regular local government elections, aligning with Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution and deepening democratic practices at the grassroots level.

“The entire 774 and Area Councils are grateful to him. May his legacy continue to inspire future generations,” the association concluded.

Kolade David: A Grassroots Advocate’s Tribute

From the local governance sector, Alabi Kolade David, a prominent leader and grassroots advocate, joined in paying tribute, praising Buhari’s commitment to local government reform and his collaborative style of leadership.

“His leadership also fostered strong relationships with notable figures, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with whom he collaborated on key initiatives,” Kolade stated. “President Buhari’s legacy extends beyond local governance, as he worked tirelessly to promote economic growth, security, and regional cooperation.”

The Statesman Who Walked Away Quietly

In a political culture often marked by the noisy re-entry of former leaders into national debates, Buhari’s deliberate post-office silence has been widely admired. According to Garba Shehu:

“After retiring from office, he returned to his farm and tended to his cattle… staying scrupulously out of the public eye and away from politics… He believed intervention in political affairs by ex-leaders was rarely merited, and more often a sign of a vanity he would never personally countenance.”

This choice, many agree, reinforced his reputation as a man driven not by ego, but by conviction. It was consistent with a career that, as Shehu wrote, was “drawn to public service, discipline, and patriotism, and the unity of Nigeria as one nation and one idea.”

National and International Mourning

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Buhari’s successor, called the late leader “a man of principle… who loved Nigeria deeply and sacrificed much for her peace and stability.” Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo noted Buhari’s “calm resolve and personal integrity,” and hailed his “quiet but firm leadership during turbulent times.”

World leaders and organizations, including the United Nations, African Union, and the U.S. State Department, offered condolences. UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised Buhari’s contributions to regional peacekeeping and conflict resolution, especially in the Sahel region.

A Complicated Legacy

Even in mourning, analysts have not shied away from the contradictions of Buhari’s presidency. Critics point to his government’s handling of the economy, rising insecurity, the #EndSARS crisis, and the controversial naira redesign policy in his final year in office. But even these critics concede his personal integrity was largely unblemished.

“He was the opposite of partisan,” Shehu emphasized, pointing to Buhari’s choice of a Southern Christian pastor, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as his running mate—an alliance that symbolized national unity and religious tolerance.

He also developed close ties with international religious leaders like the Archbishop of Canterbury, reflecting his deeply personal but inclusive spiritual identity.

The Final Chapter

Muhammadu Buhari died the way he lived: quietly. After years of leading the most populous Black nation on earth, he slipped away from the limelight, retreating to his beloved Daura and leaving behind a political terrain he helped reshape.

His epitaph may well be the words with which Shehu closed his tribute:

“We are all less without him.”

But for millions of Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots, Buhari’s true legacy will be measured not only by policies or programs but by the ideal of incorruptibility and stoic nationalism that he personified throughout his life.

And in a country searching still for leaders who put nation before self, Muhammadu Buhari remains, in memory, a symbol of what could be.

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