The Nigerian Senate has urged President Bola Tinubu to honour the memory of former President Muhammadu Buhari by naming a national monument after him, describing the late statesman as a pillar of integrity, discipline, and democratic commitment.
The appeal was made during Wednesday’s plenary, following a motion tabled by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), which sparked widespread tributes to Buhari’s life and leadership.
Lawmakers from both the ruling party and the opposition celebrated Buhari’s enduring impact on Nigeria’s national journey—first as a military leader from 1983 to 1985, and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) reflected on Buhari’s political restraint, noting that even during periods when his party did not control the Senate, he upheld the principle of legislative independence.
“His strength lay in restraint and respect for institutions,” Lawan said.
Senator Abdul’aziz Yari (Zamfara West) recounted Buhari’s initial reluctance to enter politics out of fear of post-election violence. “He had to be persuaded by clerics and elders. He was a humble man who relied on his pension and never sought wealth,” Yari said.
Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West), who served as APC National Secretary during Buhari’s first presidential bid in 2015, praised the late president’s commitment to transparency, noting that he questioned large campaign donations and rejected influence from wealthy backers.
Multiple senators echoed sentiments about Buhari’s humility, incorruptibility, and his resistance to political excesses. Senate President Godswill Akpabio highlighted his compassion, citing a time Buhari postponed administrative decisions out of concern for a colleague’s family.
In a closing moment of national reflection, senators stood in silence in honour of Buhari’s memory. The chamber acknowledged his influence on Nigeria’s political culture and agreed that his name deserved to be enshrined through a permanent national memorial.
