A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Sowunmi, has mourned the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari died while receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness in London, United Kingdom, on Sunday.
Showunmi, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said the country has lost a great leader.
He stated that Buhari was a no-nonsense man in his approach to discipline and had always brought things under control.
Showunmi said, “When EndSARS happened, I saw the General and crisis manager come forward again, as that was a point that could have imploded the country, but hey, once a general, always a general he brought things under control.
“Sure, sure it might not have been tidy, but losing the country to a manipulated implosion was not to be allowed under him. When non-state actors overplayed their hands again, I saw him nip them in the bud with command instructions appropriately given to end the madness, and it ended.
“I saw him struggle with insurgency, and perhaps its very nature made that type of asymmetrical war difficult to curb. The targets are too mobile, too formless, and camouflaged, for any citizen looks just like any terrorist. I suppose his lack of desire to call it terrorism did not help matters, and he must have oversimplified the challenge before getting onto the saddle.
“I admired his desire to give to the poor and most vulnerable in our country with his numerous pro-poor social interventions aimed at providing a social safety net.”
Showuni, who is the convener and promoter of The Alternative, a movement established to address Nigeria’s democratic challenges, insisted that Buhari was different from other politicians and kept to his words and prayed that Allah grants him Al-Jannah when his time comes.
“His ability to keep his word was legendary. His discipline, his frugality made you wonder, Oh Buhari, why are you so different from them all.
“Oh Allah, do grant him Al-Jannah when it is his time. Let his prayers accompany him in the grave, grant him provision worthy of a Wali, make the nur of his namesake, the great prophet of Islam Muhammad (PBUH) light up his grave.
“We have lost a great leader. We are sad but thankful for the opportunity that he was one of us.”
