By Deborah Nnamdi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday announced that the University of Maiduguri will be renamed in honour of the late former president, Muhammadu Buhari. The institution will henceforth be known as Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri.
The announcement came during a special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), where President Tinubu delivered a moving tribute to Buhari, praising his life of discipline, moral strength, and unwavering patriotism.
“Buhari was not a perfect man—no leader is—but he was a good, decent, and honourable man,” Tinubu stated. While acknowledging that every legacy invites debate, the President insisted that the values Buhari embodied—his moral clarity, personal integrity, and incorruptible nature—will stand the test of time.
As Tinubu spoke, the chamber—filled with cabinet ministers, senior officials, and presidential aides—was enveloped in a solemn silence, reflecting the depth of national respect for the late leader.
Describing Buhari’s life as one marked by “austere honour,” Tinubu highlighted his restraint in wielding power and his resistance to political vanity. “He stood always ramrod—unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause, and unafraid of the loneliness that sometimes comes to those who choose what is right over what is popular,” Tinubu said.
The President further noted that Buhari set a moral tone for governance—one anchored in justice, transparency, and quiet courage.
Reflecting on their political alliance, Tinubu recalled how, together with other leaders from across Nigeria’s political and regional spectrum, they achieved the country’s first peaceful democratic transfer of power in 2015. He commended Buhari’s leadership during that transition as one defined by restraint and dignity, remarking that he carried the weight of office with grace and without complaint.
“Though all legacies are debated, Buhari’s integrity and discipline should serve as a benchmark for future generations,” Tinubu said. “His patriotism was expressed not in grand speeches, but in decisive actions. His righteousness did not seek attention—it simply endured.”
The FEC session concluded with prayers and a moment of silence in Buhari’s memory. Across the nation, tributes continue to flow from public figures, civil society, and ordinary citizens honouring a lifetime of service.
Renaming the University of Maiduguri stands as both a symbolic and strategic gesture—cementing Buhari’s legacy in a region that endured the harsh realities of insurgency and witnessed significant recovery efforts under his leadership.
In his final words, President Tinubu reaffirmed:
“The incorruptible standard he represented will not be forgotten.”
