Aviation Minister Honours Late President Buhari With A Heartfelt Tribute, ” He’s A Thoroughbred Patriot, An Officer And Statesman”
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late former President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, at the Expanded Special Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting held in his honour.
In an emotionally charged address delivered before Council members and dignitaries, the aviation Minister described the late President as “a thoroughbred patriot, an officer, and an exceptional statesman” whose life and legacy have left an indelible imprint on the history of Nigeria.
“The passing of President Muhammadu Buhari has stirred a spectrum of emotions and reflections across Nigeria and beyond,” he remarked. “This is unsurprising, given that he was one of only two individuals in Nigeria’s history to have had the rare distinction of leading the nation both as a Military Head of State and later as a democratically elected President.”
Keyamo praised President Buhari’s integrity, discipline, and rare ethical compass, noting that whether viewed kindly or critically, there is a national consensus that Buhari served Nigeria with unblemished honesty and transparency.
“He was a President who led by example, who walked the talk, who inspired integrity, uncompromising transparency and accountability in public office. He was a moral and ethical compass in governance,” he said.
The Minister highlighted the various capacities in which Buhari served—ranging from a Platoon Commander to a Military Head of State, and finally, a two-term civilian President—emphasizing that in all of these roles, he was never found wanting.
Drawing from his personal experience, Keyamo recalled his own time serving the late President both as his Campaign Spokesperson in 2019 and later as Minister of State in the Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“I saw firsthand a man fiercely loyal to the principles of hierarchical order and discipline. He never compromised structure for personal relationships or sentiments. His commitment to order and function in government was unwavering,” he recounted.
Beyond his personal virtues, Keyamo celebrated Buhari’s political journey and transformation—from being perceived as a stern military ruler and a perennial election contender, to becoming a symbol of democratic change who defeated a sitting President in 2015 and peacefully handed over power in 2023.
“Only very few people in history have the grace and opportunity to reinvent themselves at the highest level and to recraft their own legacies. That was President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.
Summing up his tribute, the Minister stated: “President Muhammadu Buhari ticked all the boxes of a quintessential patriot. He came, he fought, and he conquered. He has finished the course and run a good race. Goodbye, Mai Gaskiya.”
The Federal Executive Council Meeting was convened as a solemn moment of reflection and national mourning for a man whose life story remains a study in discipline, sacrifice, and selfless service to the Nigerian state.
