Senate President Godswill Akpabio made an embarrassing slip while commending Bola Ahmed Tinubu for organizing the funeral of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on July 13, 2025, and was buried on July 15 in Daura, Katsina State.
While addressing fellow lawmakers during a Senate plenary session, Akpabio mistakenly said “Nigerians are proud of the way Tinubu was buried” instead of referring to Buhari, whose funeral had been the subject of tributes from multiple senators.
President Tinubu had declared a seven-day national mourning period, granted a public holiday, and renamed the University of Maiduguri after Buhari as part of efforts to honor the late former leader. Military honors were performed, and the national flag was presented to the bereaved family.
At the Senate session, several senators paid glowing tributes to Buhari. Senator Seriake Dickson praised Buhari’s personal discipline despite political disagreements. Senator Ali Ndume lamented his passing, stating, “Nigeria lost a leader who gave his all to the nation.” Senator Osita Izunaso recalled Buhari’s resistance to wealthy donors during his presidential campaign, while Senator Abdul’aziz Yari described him as a humble man who relied on his pension.
During his speech, Akpabio narrated moments that revealed Buhari’s compassion—one involving a reassignment letter postponed out of concern for a minister’s family, and another where Buhari intervened in the case of a struggling widow in Lagos.
Akpabio said, “When he was Head of State, people saw him as a strict disciplinarian. But there was more to him.” He shared how Buhari ensured the widow’s children were enrolled in school and helped her start a business—acts he said reflected the former president’s true character.
While praising Buhari’s legacy, Akpabio mistakenly referred to Tinubu’s burial, saying, “Nigerians are proud of what this administration has done in the way and manner President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was honoured and buried.” The gaffe was widely circulated online and sparked mixed reactions.
Despite the error, Akpabio concluded by lauding Tinubu for the state-level tribute, saying, “In doing so, he has set a national standard that should be the minimum for honouring our leaders.”
