The passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to draw heartfelt tributes from across the country, with one of the most stirring coming from Earl Osaro Onaiwu, foremost Director-General of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
For Onaiwu, the loss is deeply personal.
“He wasn’t just a former Head of State to me—he was a long-time friend and senior uncle,” he said in a moving statement released Monday. “I received the news with a heavy heart.”
Describing Buhari as “a man who stood apart,” Onaiwu praised the late leader’s principled stance in a political landscape often defined by opportunism.
“In an era where many compromise values for power, he chose to remain true to his beliefs. He never used his office to rig elections in opposition states—something that speaks volumes about the kind of leader he was,” Onaiwu noted.
He further highlighted Buhari’s quiet strength, calm disposition, and unwavering discipline, saying the former President carried the weight of leadership with dignity and restraint.
Onaiwu, however, did not shy away from acknowledging the imperfections of Buhari’s era, offering a prayer both for the former leader and for those who may have betrayed his trust.
“I pray that the Almighty God forgives those who stole under his leadership without his knowledge, and also those who used his name to perfect evil,” he said. “May history be kind to him.”
As Nigeria reflects on the legacy of one of its most enduring political figures, Onaiwu extended condolences to Buhari’s family, close associates, and all Nigerians who recognized the late President’s trademark simplicity and sincerity.
“His life was not loud—but it was lived with meaning,” Onaiwu said. “May his soul find rest, and may his memory inspire a return to values in public service.”