Buhari: Titanic in Life and Triumphant in Death

By Bala Ibrahim

Hate him or love him, former President Muhammadu Buhari, now late, and due for burial today, lived a life worthy of emulation by anyone that knows the worth of life, good life. Although he lost his father at an early age, nature was particularly kind to him, and prodigiously protective of him, all through his life. He was prepared for leadership right from secondary school, where he started climbing the ladder of leadership as a House captain, and graduated from the school with the prestigious position of the Head boy. From then onwards, Buhari’s trajectory, or his path of success, was clearly signposted with green light. It was a journey of accomplishment, that was constantly defined by favourable outcomes, almost always, in the best interest of his team and his country, Nigeria.

After his enlistment in the Nigerian army, at the young age of 19, Buhari was fortunate to be among those destined for the officer cadet training at Aldershot, England. By January 1963, at the age of 20, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and appointed the Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, the capital of the present day Ogun state. In 1964, he further moved to the Mechanical Transport Officer’s Course at the Army Mechanical Transport School in Borden, United Kingdom. Yet, despite this sparkling successes, all of them at an early age, the critics, particularly those that chose to be unashamedly antagonistic, went to town with the balderdash that, the man had no secondary school leaving certificate. But because Buhari was thoroughly trained, both at home and at work, he chose to see these antagonists in their own colour only, i.e, discontented or resentful people, that are only aroused by someone’s good qualities, or luck. Yes, because he was titanic in life, he had succeeded in making his antagonists, densely discontented.

As a military officer, Buhari set an unprecedented record, by serving as the General Officer Commanding, GOC, in virtually all the eight divisions of the Nigerian Army, before becoming the Head of State and Commander in chief. These include the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Armoured, 6th Amphibious, 7th, 8th, 81st, and 82nd division. Yet, because of a deep seated hostility of the antagonists, some people went to town with the bunkum that, the man had no secondary school leaving certificate. But because he was created with the exceptional strength of heart, and a special power to endure the difficulties of criticism, without becoming upset or succumbing easily to anger, Buhari remained titanic, by refusing them the glorification of response.

In the military, the ambition of every officer is to become a General. Buhari was a General. He was the only Nigerian, living or dead, that served as Governor, Minister and Head of state. He was the first and the last head of the richest parastatal ever established in Nigeria, the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF. Yet, he came out clinically clean, without any trace of corrupt enrichment. He was the only Nigerian that declared his assets twelve times, and all, came out consistent with the assets of a man that served his country with the semblance of honesty and the sincerity of purpose, in words and actions.

Reports have it that, in one of their meetings, King Charles of the United Kingdom asked the late President Muhammadu Buhari, whether he owned a house in the UK. With characteristic honesty, Baba Buhari replied that he did not. He explained that even in Nigeria, whatever properties he ever had were acquired before he came into power and that he felt much freer when he had nothing. That was titanic Buhari, the man that was everything in Nigeria, but chose to feel freer when he had nothing.

In politics, Buhari became the first politician to beat an incumbent President. After that, he was re-elected for a second term. So Buhari succeeded in becoming a military Head of state and a civilian President for Nigeria. Buhari was a symbol of modesty, honesty, an example of self-effacement, and a legend that would continue to be admired, to the point that his stories would be passed down through generations. Buhari’s life was spent in expressing devotion to his country and giving vigorous support for Nigeria. He was a patriot above all others.

As all roads lead to Daura today, for the final farewell of the late General, where the roll call is of everyone of substance, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who once said to Buhari, “Today, you gave us a path to prosperity, a path to success”, we can proudly say, Buhari was indeed titanic in life and triumphant in death. May his soul rest in perfect peace, ameen.