The Senator representing Katsina Central, Abdul’Aziz Yar’Adua, has described the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as a leader whose kind appears once in a generation — a man driven not by the lure of power or riches, but by an unwavering commitment to justice and discipline.
Speaking at the final Fidau prayers held at Buhari’s residence in Daura, Katsina State, Senator Yar’Adua said, “It’s not just Nigeria that lost a leader, Africa lost a statesman. People like General Buhari come once in a lifetime.”
He said Buhari’s life wasn’t defined by political titles or accumulation of wealth, but by values rarely seen in public life today.
“Honesty. Integrity. Simplicity. That’s what he stood for. He never chased wealth, he chased justice,” Yar’Adua declared.
He called on those in power to reflect on Buhari’s example — not just as a political figure, but as a symbol of ethical leadership. “We pray others will carry that torch. Nigeria needs leaders who don’t just talk change, but live it,” he said.
Describing Buhari’s death as “a loss too deep for words,” Yar’Adua said the former president’s legacy stretched far beyond the borders of Nigeria.
The Senator also shared personal stories from his long relationship with Buhari, revealing ties that ran through family and the military.
“Buhari wasn’t just a mentor, he was family. He and my late brother, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, were brothers-in-arms. I grew up around him,” he said.
He recalled how Buhari once firmly resisted his attempt to resign from the army after his brother’s death.
“He wouldn’t even let me resign without a compelling reason. That’s the kind of man he was — protective, thoughtful, principled.”
Closing his remarks, Yar’Adua made an emotional appeal: “We’ve lost a man who bled for Nigeria, who believed in its unity and future. May Allah raise more like him. And may Nigeria never forget what we had in him.”