President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima led a galaxy of Nigeria’s elite, including former Presidents, to Daura, Katsina State on Tuesday to pay their final respects as the nation laid to rest the ex-military Head of State and two-term democratically elected President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu personally received Buhari’s flag-draped remains at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina shortly after 2 p.m., following its departure from London earlier that morning aboard the Presidential Aircraft on which Buhari rode during his eight-year tenure.
The burial ceremony, conducted according to Islamic rites by the Chief Imam of Daura, Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, attracted international dignitaries, including President Umaru Sissoci Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Niger, Ali Zeine, and former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou.
Former Vice Presidents Yemi Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar were also present, alongside the National Assembly leadership, including Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Senator Kawu Sumaila, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Senator Sani Bello, Senator Abu Ibrahim, and Senator Yariman Bakura.
Security chiefs in attendance included Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Olufemi Oluyede; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.), and former Director General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda led the state government delegation, which included Deputy Governor Faruq Jobe, Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly Nasir Daura, Secretary to the State Government Abdullahi Faskari, and members of the State Executive Council.
Federal Government officials present included Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari; Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Isiaq Salako; and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, among others.
The delegation also included the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The ceremony was equally attended by Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, alongside governors from multiple states, including Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf; Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani; Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule; Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya; Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi; Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Others include Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma and Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu.
Former governors in attendance were Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).
Private sector leaders Aliko Dangote, Sayyu Dantata, and Dahiru Mangal joined the other dignitaries, while traditional rulers, including the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Usman; the Emir of Daura, Umar Faruq; and the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, were also present.
Minister of Agriculture Senator Abubakar Kyari, and former Minister of Communications Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, were among other notable attendees.
Findings from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency show that following the influx of Nigeria’s elite to Daura, the Katsina airport recorded over 130 aircraft landings and departures between Monday and Tuesday.
