The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a pan-African icon, a disciplined soldier, and a nationalist whose legacy will endure in Nigeria’s history.
In a condolence message issued through his media director, Otunba Moses Olafare, the Ooni, who also serves as Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council and Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), said the news of Buhari’s passing came as a rude shock.
He described Buhari’s death as the end of a significant chapter in Nigeria’s national story, but noted that “kings and leaders of great legacy are not mourned, they are celebrated, for their footprints in the sands of time remain long after they have transitioned to the ancestral realm.”
Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu announces Buhari’s death, sends Shettima to escort body to Nigeria
The monarch praised Buhari as a resilient leader and an unrepentant patriot, stating that “from the battlefield as a gallant military officer to the presidency as Commander-in-Chief, President Buhari gave his all to the cause of the Nigerian nation.”
Recalling a recent meeting with the late President, Oba Ogunwusi said, “He was in very high spirits, strong and jovial as always, and received me with maximum courtesy. It is truly shocking that he is no more. That alone is a profound reminder of life’s fleeting nature.”
Describing him as “a true son of the North and a pan-African per excellence,” the Ooni said Buhari’s legacy of integrity, frugality, and devotion to a united Nigeria is permanently etched in the nation’s consciousness. “History will be kind to his memory,” he added.
He also called on Nigerians across ethnic, religious, and political lines to emulate Buhari’s unwavering belief in unity and uphold the values of peace, equity, and progress.
On behalf of the Yoruba people, the House of Oduduwa, and traditional institutions across the country, the Ooni extended heartfelt condolences to the Buhari family, the Federal Government, the Katsina State Government, the Daura Emirate, and Nigerians around the world.