In a statement signed by the former President Ibrahim Babangida,he said It is with a deeply heavy heart that he received the news of the passing of my friend, my brother, my course mate, and a fellow soldier in the journey of nationhood — President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
According to the statement, their paths crossed in 1962 when they both joined the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna. From those early days, it said Muhammadu stood out — quiet yet resolute, principled yet humble, deeply patriotic and fiercely loyal to Nigeria.
Gen Ibrahim Babangida recalled that through the years, they shared trenches and trials, dreams and disappointments, victories and moments of reflection. Our bond was forged not only by military training, but by a shared commitment to the ideals of service, discipline, and love for the country.
The statement added that In the course of their long careers, fate placed both of them in leadership at different times, and in very different circumstances. But in all, Buhari remained consistent in his belief in integrity, order, and the dignity of public office.
He served Nigeria with a deep sense of responsibility and unwavering commitment, even when the road was lonely or misunderstood.
Beyond the uniform and the public glare, I knew him as a deeply spiritual man, a man who found solace in faith, and who carried himself with the humility of someone who believed in a higher calling. We may not have agreed on everything — as brothers often don’t — but I never once doubted his sincerity or his patriotism.
His passing today is not just the loss of a former Head of State, or a two-term civilian President. It is the loss of a symbol — a man whose life embodied the transition of Nigeria from the old guard to the new republic. A man who, even in retirement, remained a moral compass to many, and an example of modesty in public life.
To his beloved wife Aisha, his children, grandchildren, and the nation he loved and served —
While extending his deepest condolences. Gen Ibrahim Babangida prayed to Allah (SWT), in His infinite mercy, forgive his shortcomings, accept his deeds, and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.
