Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a personal loss beyond national mourning.
In a heartfelt statement personally signed on Sunday, Ndume said Buhari was not just a national leader, but a mentor and father figure whose life and character had a profound impact on him.
“The late president was a man I held in the highest regard not merely as a statesman, but as a father figure and mentor whose simplicity, integrity, and commitment to national service deeply inspired me,” Ndume said.
He recalled the depth of their relationship, which went beyond politics, noting that their shared Fulani-Kanuri cultural roots often enriched their interactions.
“Those who witnessed our interactions often mistook me for a Kanuri man, as we frequently exchanged playful banter drawn from Fulani-Kanuri cultural traditions,” he added.
Ndume reminisced about his last visit to Buhari in Daura, describing it as a moment filled with warmth, humour, and wise counsel, memories he said he would forever cherish.
“In President Buhari, I have lost not just a leader, but a personal pillar, a man who believed in my potential and encouraged me at critical points in my journey.”
The senator concluded his tribute with a prayer, asking Almighty Allah to forgive Buhari’s shortcomings and grant him eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus.
