Former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida on Monday mourned the late President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he never once doubted his sincerity or patriotism.

Mr Babangida, in a tribute, said, “It is a deeply heavy heart that I received the news of the passing of Buhari, who was my friend, brother, coursemate, and a fellow soldier in the journey of nationhood.

“Our paths crossed in 1962 when we both joined the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna. From those early days, Buhari stood out quietly yet resolutely, principled yet humble, deeply patriotic and fiercely loyal to Nigeria.

“Through the years, we 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 country.”

Beyond the uniform and the public glare, Mr Babangida said he knew Mr Buhari as a deeply spiritual man, one who found solace in faith and 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,” he said.

Mr Babangida expressed his deepest condolences to Mr Buhari’s wife, Aisha, his children, grandchildren, and “the nation he loved and served.”

“May Allah (SWT), in His infinite mercy, forgive his shortcomings, accept his deeds, and grant him aljannatul firdaus. May his legacy endure,” Babangida prayed.

(NAN)