Buhari was not perfect, but his incorruptible standard should be emulated — Tinubu

By Kunle Sanni –

President Bola Tinubu has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, acknowledging that while Buhari was not a perfect leader, his legacy of integrity, discipline, and moral strength would remain a guiding standard in Nigeria’s political history.

Speaking at a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session held in Abuja on Thursday in honour of the late leader, Tinubu described Buhari as “a good man, a decent man, an honourable man,” whose life of public service was defined by incorruptibility and steadfast patriotism.

“President Buhari was not a perfect man — no leader is — but he was, in every sense, a good man,” Tinubu said. “The incorruptible standard he represented will not be forgotten.”

The President noted that Buhari’s legacy would be debated, as all historical records are, but said his moral force and character set him apart.

“He stood, always, ramrod straight; unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause, and unafraid of the loneliness that visits those who do what is right rather than what is popular,” he added.

Reflecting on Buhari’s time in both military and civilian leadership, Tinubu praised the late president’s humility and resistance to the excesses of office. He described Buhari’s courage as “quiet” and his patriotism as “lived more in action than in words.”

Tinubu also recalled their political journey together, particularly the alliance that led to Buhari’s historic victory in 2015 — the first time an opposition candidate unseated an incumbent president in Nigeria’s democratic history.

“His was a life lived in full service to Nigeria, and in fidelity to God,” the President concluded.