President Bola Tinubu, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau and Niger Republic Prime Minister, Ali Lamine Zeine, were among the dignitaries who attended the funeral rites of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Daura, Katsina State.

The remains of Mr Buhari were conveyed to Nigeria by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The remains were brought aboard a Nigerian Air force flight -FGT 001, which touched ground at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport, around 2p.m., on Tuesday.

The body was received by Mr Tinubu, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, governors and other dignitaries.

After a farewell parade in honour of the late former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his remains were conveyed to Daura by road.

The funeral prayer was led by Imam Hassan Yusuf, after 4p.m., at the Daura Helipad.

The prayer was performed by many dignitaries, notable among them were a former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Others were members of the National Assembly, Emir of Daura, Umar Faruk-Umar, that of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir-Usman and Emirs of Zazzau, Dutse and Kazaure, among others.

Businessmen such as Aliko Dangote and Dahiru Barau Mangal, also attended the burial.

After the funeral prayer, the corpse was taken to his personal residence where he was buried.

The funeral rites were attended by thousands of people who were earlier denied access to the venue but later allowed to enter.

Some of the people interviewed extolled the virtues of the late former President who distinguished himself for integrity, honesty and discipline.

A resident, Salisu Lawal, said that the late Buhari was a great man who loved staying with his people and offering a helping hand to them.

Another resident, Aliyu Nasiru, described the death of Buhari as a great loss only to his immediate family, but to the state and the country.

He said, “The death has created a vacuum that is difficult to fill, he will continue to be remembered for his good virtues.’’

He prayed to the Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus.

(NAN)