Former Ogun State Governor and Senator, Ibikunle Amosun, has paid glowing tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a fearless leader whose legacy of discipline, compassion for the poor, and unyielding integrity will stand the test of time.
In an emotional reflection titled Oh My Good God!, Amosun detailed the depth of his personal and political relationship with Buhari, recounting how the former president stood by him at a critical point in his political journey.
Amosun said he received the heartbreaking news of Buhari’s passing around 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, 2025, after days of closely monitoring his health and planning to visit him in London.
“The news brought to a close the decades of my relationship with former President Buhari — a relationship I will cherish until I breathe my last,” he wrote.
He recalled how, in 2006, when political forces tried to frustrate his first attempt to contest as governor of Ogun State, it was Buhari — then leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) — who gave him a platform and stood by him when many others fled.
“While others chickened out, Buhari followed me to my declaration at Ake Palace and said they should kill both of us if that was what it would take,” Amosun revealed.
He described the late president as a man of “spartan discipline,” who measured every action and policy by its impact on the poor. According to him, Buhari’s leadership ethos was not for self-promotion but driven by conviction and moral clarity.
Amosun said Buhari resisted all temptations to allow his family benefit from the perks of power, choosing instead to insulate them from corruption and protect his integrity.
“His personal discipline was not for show. It was deeply rooted in his values,” he added.
The former senator hailed Buhari’s record in office, describing his infrastructure drive and social intervention programmes as unmatched in the country’s history.
“He ran the most ambitious and extensive poverty alleviation programme ever seen in Nigeria,” he noted. “Posterity will judge him kindly.”
While acknowledging Buhari’s polarising persona, Amosun argued that the former leader was one of the most misunderstood figures in Nigerian politics — deeply loved by those who experienced his sincerity first-hand.
“People may have hesitated about him, but his followers remained loyal till the end because they knew the real Buhari — the one you could take a bullet for,” he wrote.
He also shared a personal disagreement they had over a family matter, which only strengthened his respect for Buhari’s sense of duty.
“He was hard on his family deliberately — to protect them from the corruption of power. That took a lot of courage,” Amosun observed.
Reflecting on Buhari’s legacy, Amosun described him as a simple, humorous, and compassionate leader beneath the stern exterior — a man whose devotion to Nigeria was never in doubt.
“Behind his steely face was a heart of gold and a deep passion for the underprivileged,” he said. “He lived simply and laughed easily, often exclaiming, ‘Oh my good God!’ when something amused him.”
Amosun expressed gratitude on behalf of Ogun State and the South West for the infrastructure support the region received under Buhari’s leadership, adding that Nigeria would come to appreciate him more with time.
“Buhari finished his race. He finished well,” he declared.
The former governor extended condolences to the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, the late president’s children, his surviving elder sister, Hajia Rakiya, and his nephew, Mamman Daura.
“Goodnight, a man of peace, honour, and integrity,” Amosun concluded.
President Muhammadu Buhari served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and later as a two-term civilian president from 2015 to 2023. He died in London at the age of 82 and was buried on Sunday according to Islamic rites.
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