Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as one of the greatest losses Nigeria has suffered in recent times.
In a heartfelt condolence message issued on Sunday, the Vice President said the passing of the 82-year-old former leader, who died at a clinic in the United Kingdom, marked a dark chapter in Nigeria’s history.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, he described Buhari as a towering figure in Nigeria’s political evolution, whose life and legacy would continue to shape the conscience of public service in the country.
“It is a black Sunday in Nigeria,” Vice President Shettima mourned. “My heart is overwhelmed by grief, as the nation mourns one of its greatest leaders of all time, His Excellency, former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. This loss is too cruel than terms could give out—coming at a time I was anticipating his quick recovery after visiting him at the hospital in the United Kingdom”, Shettima said.
The Vice President, who had only recently visited the late President in London on the instruction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, lamented that Buhari’s death came just as hopes for his recovery were high.
He described the former President as an “archetypal public servant,” whose long and distinguished career—spanning service as a military officer, Head of State, and later, two-term civilian President, left an indelible mark on the nation.
“Great leaders like the late Buhari are very rare to come by in a lifetime,” Shettima said. “His legacies as a true democrat, a man of discipline and integrity, and a symbol of national unity, will continue to serve as a leading light for future leaders to follow.”
The Vice President recalled Buhari’s unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project, noting that his life was defined by sacrifice, courage, and a deep belief in the unity and progress of the nation.
“The late Pa Buhari dedicated his active years to serving Nigeria and the people. He was a true democrat in all senses of the word, and his loyalty to his country, uncompromising stance on unity, and vision for a greater Nigeria contributed in no small measure to keeping the nation as one. Indeed, he lived a life that transcended the ordinary—a life of selflessness, a life defined by bravery in the face of adversity and integrity in public service”, Shettima said.
Vice President Shettima extended his condolences to the immediate family of the former President, the people of Katsina State, and all Nigerians.
He urged the nation to draw comfort from the fact that Buhari’s legacy is firmly etched into the bedrock of Nigeria’s political and institutional framework.
“The former Nigerian leader will continue to live amongst us through his legacies already engraved in the very fabric of the Nigerian State,” Shettima concluded.
