Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has paid tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday in London.
Bamidele also paid tribute to the late paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who also joined his ancestors on at the age of 91.
The lawmaker, in a statement by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, on Monday in Abuja, described the two leaders as unrepentant proponents of peace, stability and unity.
He reflected on how Buhari and Oba Adetona patriotically served their fatherland, states and communities before they were both called home at the ripe ages of 82 and 91 respectively.
Bamidele said that their passage was not just a huge loss to their immediate families, communities and states, but also to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, West Africa and Africa at large which they both served in different capacities until their demise on July 13.
He noted that Buhari as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985 was an embodiment of discipline and self-control, leading with personal integrity to rid the country’s public of all forms of malfeasance and set his fatherland on the track of justice and rectitude.
The senator also reflected on the Fourth Republic, specifically on how Buhari pitched his tent with the people.
“He joined forces with the progressives across the Niger and fought the conservatives under whose administration Nigeria experienced economic regression and institutional decay.
He noted Buhari’s struggles for a graft-free Nigeria, starting from when he fearlessly contested the presidential elections on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to when he spearheaded the formation of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
“He also teamed up with the progressives across Nigeria to form All Progressives Congress (APC), the political force that eventually brought the progressives to national prominence in 2015,” he said.
Bamidele extended his deepest condolences to his wife, Aisha Buhari; his children, the traditional leaders of Daura Emirate, the government and people of Katsina State and Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu.
On behalf of the Senate and its South-West Caucus, Bamidele also condoled with the Anikilaya Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, the entire people of Ijebu Kingdom as well as the government and people of Ogun over the passage of the highly-revered monarch.
The senate leader described the departed monarch as a natural proponent of peace and stability, whose reign between January 1960 and July 2025 witnessed real growth and development.
At different dispensations, according to Bamidele, Oba Sikiru Adetona maintained the sanctity of royalty and staunchly defended his kingdom, whether under the military ruler or during the democratic eras.
The senate leader added that the monarch convincingly lived and worked for the development, peace and unity, not only of Ijebu Kingdom, Ogun and South-West, but indeed of his fatherland at large.
