Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has paid a heartfelt tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 82 in a London hospital.
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In a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja, Gbajabiamila described the late president as a patriotic statesman who upheld the independence of the National Assembly despite internal pressures within the presidency.
“I considered President Buhari not only a friend but also a father figure. He embodied dignity, integrity, and unwavering resolve,” Gbajabiamila said. “He always followed through on his commitments—to himself, to his family, to his associates, and to our nation.”
Gbajabiamila, who led the 9th House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023, credited Buhari’s firm backing for the stability and legislative progress achieved during that period. He said the former president refused to allow his office to be used to manipulate the legislature for political purposes.
“As Speaker, I enjoyed President Buhari’s unflinching support amid persistent attempts by some to use his office to undermine the parliament for political gain,” he said. “When these challenges became a distraction, I went to him. He assured me that only the national interest mattered and pledged his support as long as I continued to serve that cause.”
According to Gbajabiamila, Buhari’s refusal to interfere allowed the National Assembly to remain focused on policy reform and service delivery.
“True to his word, he resisted efforts to destabilise the House and, in doing so, ushered in a period of stability that allowed the National Assembly to focus on policy innovation and meaningful service to the Nigerian people,” he said.
Reflecting on their professional and personal relationship, Gbajabiamila said working with Buhari was among the greatest honours of his public service career.
“Like any public figure, he was not infallible,” he added. “Over decades in the public eye, his mistakes were magnified. But he remained an honourable and dignified man, a fine soldier, and a passionate patriot.”
He urged Nigerians to honour the late president’s legacy by upholding the ideals of service, unity, and integrity that defined his tenure.
“My family and I extend our condolences to Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the children, and the wider Buhari family. May they find comfort in the profound accomplishments of President Buhari and the enduring lessons of tenacity, dignity, and grace that he embodied.”
Gbajabiamila ended his tribute with a solemn prayer: “May Allah grant him Aljannah Firdaus and forever comfort his family.”
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