The red chamber is warming up for a special session like no other. Come Wednesday, the Nigerian Senate will hold a solemn sitting to honour the life and legacy of late former President Muhammadu Buhari — a man whose name stirred debates from beer parlours in Ibadan to pepper soup joints in Sokoto.
The planned tribute follows Buhari’s passing on July 13 in London, after what officials described only as a “prolonged illness.” He was 82. The former leader was laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in a modest Islamic burial attended by local and international dignitaries.
Now, it’s the turn of the lawmakers — many of whom sparred with the man during his presidency — to pause and reflect.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in a statement, said the upper chamber will dedicate the midweek session to “remember the contributions of a man who served Nigeria twice — both with boots and ballot.”
That’s no small feat. Buhari remains Nigeria’s second-longest-serving leader: first as a stern-faced military ruler from 1983 to 1985, and later as a civilian president from 2015 to 2023 — after what many Nigerians still call “a legendary political comeback.”
While his time in power was marked by contrasting views — praised for his anti-corruption stance, criticised for economic challenges and rising insecurity — Buhari never failed to leave an impression. Even his silence could be loud. As some wry Nigerians would joke, “Baba was the only man who could address the nation by not saying much.”
At last week’s tribute by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), President Bola Tinubu described his predecessor as a man who “governed with dignity and bore the burden of leadership without complaint.” That line has since sparked conversations across social media, as Nigerians continue to dissect Buhari’s years in office — from his war against corruption, the rise of the “Next Level” mantra, to the controversial closure of land borders.
Despite the polarising opinions, Wednesday’s Senate session is expected to be a rare moment of national unity. Lawmakers from across party lines will likely share stories — both personal and political — of the man who, at different points, was either their commander-in-chief or political rival.
Analysts say the tribute is not just about the man, but the era he represents. “Whether you supported him or not, Buhari’s presence defined almost a decade of Nigeria’s recent history,” said Amina Uduak, a public affairs commentator. “The Senate acknowledging that is important.”
As Nigerians await the Senate’s special sitting, some are wondering aloud if the lawmakers will remember not just Buhari the president, but Buhari the person — the man who loved his cows, kept a famously lean wardrobe, and once confessed that he only eats what he grows. (That didn’t stop the inflation, but it sure made for good memes.)
In the end, as the political elite gather to pay homage, millions of ordinary citizens — especially those who shouted “Sai Baba!” in 2015 — will be watching closely. Not just to hear what the Senators say, but to see what version of Buhari they choose to remember.
Because in Nigeria, even in death, politics never takes a break
