Our reporter/ Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday described the late immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, as a “cool patriot” who “tried his best” to develop Nigeria.
Buhari died on Sunday in a hospital in London, United Kingdom, at the age of 82.
In a statement signed by Kehinde Akinyemi, his media aide, Obasanjo said he received the news of Buhari’s death with a heavy heart.
“It is with a heavy heart that I received this afternoon the passing of a colleague, a comrade, a cool patriot, General Muhammadu Buhari, who, as a soldier, played his role as a soldier. As an administrator, he played his role as an administrator, and as a statesman, he played his role as a statesman, of course,” the statement reads.
“At a time like this, we need the totality of the experience and what I may call statesmanship of all those who have had opportunities to run the affairs of this country to get us out of the situation we are in.
“He will be surely missed. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has also described the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari as a shock.
In a post on her verified X handle on Sunday, Okonjo-Iweala said she had sent him a get well message shortly before learning of his passing.
She expressed deep sadness over the former president’s death, saying she had no idea his condition was that critical.
“Unbelievable! I did not know just how ill HE President Buhari was and minutes after sending my get well wishes, I have just learned that he passed away,” she wrote.
She described the news as devastating and offered condolences to the late president’s family, close aides, and associates.
“I am so very sad. May the soul of HE @MBuhari rest in perfect peace. My deepest condolences to the entire Buhari family and his close aides and associates,” she added.
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