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Buhari’s children speak on bond with their late father, his discipline, love for animals, others

Published

7 months ago

July 18, 2025

Late Former President, Muhammadu Buhari and his family

Buhari’s children speak on bond with their late father, his discipline, love for animals, others

As Nigeria continues to mourn the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, members of his family have spoken publicly, offering intimate reflections on his personal life, values, and the legacy he leaves behind.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Buhari’s children and grandchildren shared stories that reveal the late leader’s character beyond politics — his humour, discipline, and unwavering commitment to integrity.

Buhari passed away on Sunday in a London clinic following a yet-to-be-disclosed protracted illness. He was brought back into the country on Tuesday and buried in Daura, his hometown. Nigerians from all walks of life thronged Daura to pay their respects.

His death has sparked a wave of reactions across Nigeria and beyond, with many reflecting on his presidency, his military past, and his personal journey as a father and grandfather.

‘He cautioned us not to use what doesn’t belong to us’

Hadiza Muhammadu Buhari, popularly known as Nana, one of his daughters, spoke about her father’s strict moral code and the lessons he instilled in his children from a young age. “I remember when we were little, there’s a time he gave me money to buy textbooks. After buying the books, I used the remaining change to buy sweets,” she recalled.

“When I returned and gave him the remaining balance, he said, ‘Nana, that’s improper. If you’re sent to buy something, return the change to the person who sent you. If they choose to give it to you, accept it. But never touch what doesn’t belong to you.’”

Nana described her father as a man of principle, patience, and quiet strength. “He used to call me Madam Nana. We would chat, joke, and laugh together. He didn’t like noise, and even when insulted, he never retaliated — he would just look at you.”

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She also said late Buhari had special attachment to all his children. I am deeply pained by his exit, just the way I was devastated when we lost our mother 20 years ago.

“We used to discuss a lot of issues whenever we are together…Sometimes, he used to tell me that whenever he looked at me, I reminded him of his mother.”

Nana added that Buhari’s love for his grandchildren was unwavering.

“He had special names for all of them. There is Mama and there is Babban Mutum. He also loved his relatives and he kept a bond with them.

“He was also in love with animals, including his cattle. He had turtles and peacocks,” she said.

She also shared a moment from his final days. “During his treatment, I went to London to check on him. When he got better, I told him I was returning to Nigeria. He asked, ‘Where are you going?’ I said, ‘Back to Nigeria,’ and he replied, ‘Then go and greet Nigerians for me.’”

‘We are grateful to those who forgave our father’

Aisha Hanan Buhari, one of his younger daughters, expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “Losing him feels like losing a part of me,” she said. “What I’ll miss most is his sense of humour. I looked at him as a part of myself.”

Hanan also addressed the public response to her father’s passing, particularly the expressions of forgiveness from Nigerians.

“We have nothing to say to them but to say thank you, Alhamdulillah,” she said. “He had good intentions for Nigerians. He belonged to everyone.”

She added that her father encouraged her to pursue education, prayer, and activities that brought joy and fulfilment. “He trained me to study, pray, and do things that make us happy,” she said.

‘He gifted me a turtle three times’

One of Buhari’s granddaughters, Sa’adatu Muhammad, also shared her memories, including a unique tradition her grandfather upheld. “Whenever a grandchild was born, he would send two turtles — a male and a female — for the child to raise,” she said.

Sa’adatu recalled receiving turtles from him on three separate occasions. “He gifted me some and they died. He gave me another set, and they also died. He gave me a third time but said he would not give me any more,” she added.

She also reflected on the public’s reaction to Buhari’s legacy. “This is a great gift — someone who has the right to be angry but chooses to forgive. There’s a video of him apologising after he left office, which went viral. People saw it.”

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Sa’adatu defended her grandfather’s reputation, saying, “Human beings are not infallible. Everyone has lapses. But no matter what you think of him, you can’t call Baba a thief, and you can’t call him a tyrant.”

Domestic staff share emotional memories

Suleiman Sani Kaita, a long time member of Muhammadu Buhari’s domestic staff who personally served the late president his meals and drinks, has shared heartfelt reflections on their final moments together.

“We had a good working relationship with him. He loved us, and we loved him dearly,” Kaita said. “We pray that Allah forgives him, admits him into Jannah, and gives us the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”

Kaita also revealed Buhari’s simple culinary preferences. “His favourite food was boiled potatoes and eggs. He was a regular tea person and doesn’t eat much — he preferred light meals.”

Aliyu Maiwada Masanawa, another member of Buhari’s domestic staff, recalled the warmth and affection the former president showed him over the years, “Since I met him, he treated me like his grandchild.

“He even gave me a pet name — ‘Malam Dogo’— and people used to fondly joke with me about it.”
He described his time with Buhari as filled with joy and fond memories, saying the late president’s humility and kindness left a lasting impression on those who worked closely with him.

Buhari’s children speak on bond with their late father, his discipline, love for animals, others

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Gunmen Abduct Five from Edo Health Centre, Demand ₦100 Million Ransom

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Edo State police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem

Gunmen Abduct Five from Edo Health Centre, Demand ₦100 Million Ransom

A kidnapping incident in Akoko‑Edo Local Government Area, Edo State, has left residents alarmed after five people were abducted from the Makeke Health Centre. The kidnappers have reportedly contacted families, demanding a ₦100 million ransom for the release of two of the victims.

The abductions occurred on February 8, 2026, targeting individuals seeking and providing medical services. The confirmed victims include Mrs. Gladys Okomayin, a nurse at the health centre; Miss Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student; and Mr. Samuel Ilesanmi, who had brought his son for treatment. The names of the two other victims have not yet been released.

Eyewitnesses reported that the nurse was later abandoned in the bush as she could not keep pace with the kidnappers during their retreat. Following the incident, local hunters and vigilantes mobilised to comb the forests for the abducted individuals, but efforts to locate them were unsuccessful.

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The kidnappers have demanded ₦100 million for the release of Miss Oriloye and Mr. Ilesanmi, heightening fears over a rising spate of kidnappings in Edo State and surrounding regions.

Mr. Omowumi Bode Ekundayo, National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, warned that the security situation is deteriorating, stressing that the area has become a gateway for criminal activities from neighboring states. He called on security agencies and state authorities to take urgent action to prevent further tragedies.

The Edo State Police Command, through Public Relations Officer Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the kidnappings and stated that investigations and rescue operations are ongoing. Authorities are working to ensure the safe return of the victims and apprehend those responsible.

This incident adds to Edo State’s growing security challenges, as communities continue to grapple with abductions and ransom demands across rural and semi-urban areas. Residents and local leaders have urged stronger police presence and rapid intervention strategies to tackle the kidnapping menace.

Gunmen Abduct Five from Edo Health Centre, Demand ₦100 Million Ransom

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Ex-Acting AGF Nwabuoku Admits Diverting N868.4 Million to Private Firms

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Ex-Acting AGF Nwabuoku Admits Diverting N868.4 Million to Private Firms

Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, the former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, has admitted in the Federal High Court in Abuja to authorising the transfer of N868.4 million in public funds from the Ministry of Defence to four private companies. The confession, made during cross-examination on Tuesday, marks a dramatic turn in the ongoing money laundering trial against the former senior public finance official.

The court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, heard that the funds were transferred to Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited. Nwabuoku described the transactions in a written statement to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as for “classified security purposes.” However, this contradicted his earlier testimony in court, where he denied any links to the companies.

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During cross-examination by prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, Nwabuoku was confronted with his ICPC statement dated February 2, 2025, in which he admitted authorising the payments while serving as the Director of Finance at the Defence Ministry. The prosecution argued that there was no evidence that the funds were used for lawful security purposes, insisting that the transactions lacked proper documentation or justification.

Nwabuoku also addressed questions regarding his personal residence, claiming he purchased the property with legitimate earnings. However, he acknowledged a N64 million cheque issued by Mdavi Limited to City Gate Homes for the acquisition of the house, raising further questions about the source of funds.

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The case has been adjourned to February 27, 2026, for the adoption of written addresses by counsel, as the court continues to weigh evidence in one of Nigeria’s most high-profile anti-corruption trials.

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Ex-Acting AGF Nwabuoku Admits Diverting N868.4 Million to Private Firms

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Deji Adeyanju Mocks El-Rufai Over Alleged Arrest Plot

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Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju

Deji Adeyanju Mocks El-Rufai Over Alleged Arrest Plot

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has mocked former Kaduna State governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai following the latter’s claim that the Federal Government is planning to arrest and detain him upon his return to Nigeria.

El-Rufai had raised the alarm in a two-page document titled “Confidential Briefing Memo”, dated February 10, 2026, in which he expressed concerns about what he described as an anticipated politically motivated detention. The memo, reportedly sighted by BusinessDay, outlined alleged sustained pressure from security and anti-corruption agencies after his fallout with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and his withdrawal from participating in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In the memo, the former governor said that since formally declining to serve in the Tinubu administration in August 2023 and subsequently resigning from the APC, he and his associates have faced repeated investigations.

“Since formally withdrawing my earlier acceptance to serve in the Tinubu administration in August 2023 and subsequently resigning from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), my close allies and I have been subjected to repeated investigations by security and anti-corruption agencies,” he stated.

El-Rufai, who is reportedly outside the country, further alleged that several former officials who served in his administration, as well as business associates linked to him, have been unlawfully detained without charge for extended periods.

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“Officials who served in my administration and business persons alleged to be associated with me have been unlawfully detained without charge for extended periods, including my Chief of Staff (50 days), a Senior Adviser (28 days), a commissioner (24 days), and a CEO (over 70 days and still detained). They are then arraigned on phantom charges, with judges influenced to deny bail or impose stringent conditions,” he claimed.

The former governor also recalled what he described as a similar attempt to prosecute him during the administrations of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and former President Goodluck Jonathan. According to him, efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) between 2010 and 2013 failed after he was discharged and acquitted of an alleged abuse of office charge relating to land approvals while serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

“Despite years of intense, multi-agency investigation, no credible evidence has been presented against me, and no charges have been filed,” El-Rufai added.

On the alleged new plan to arrest him, he said he had received credible information indicating the certainty of detention upon his imminent return to Nigeria. He described the move as inconsistent with constitutional safeguards and Nigeria’s international obligations, while also alleging selective prosecution of opposition figures and sponsored media attacks aimed at damaging his reputation.

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“El-Rufai said they are planning to arrest him soon. El-Rufai arrested everyone who criticized him in Kaduna,” Adeyanju wrote.

He cited the case of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, a government critic who was abducted in 2019 and has not been found since.

“His critic Dadiyata who was abducted in front of his wife and daughter disappeared till today without trace. The oppressors of yesterday are now comrades,” Adeyanju added.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Federal Government, the Presidency, or relevant security agencies regarding El-Rufai’s allegations of an impending arrest.

The development marks another chapter in the ongoing political tensions involving the former governor, who has recently been vocal about his disagreements with the current administration and internal dynamics within the APC.