A calm ambiance was heard at Katsina’s airport on Tuesday when the presidential plane departed with Buhari’s casket. President Tinubu took to the runway, accompanied by honor guards from the military. The air was quiet and solemn. more than just a landing. It was the start of a nation’s goodbye.
The body of the former president had been transported to London shortly after his death on the 13th of July. His administration was under military rule from the 1980s, and democratic administration between the years 2015 until 2023. His legacy sparked pride and debate. Today, those emotions were resonating with pride at Umar Musa Yar’adua Airport.
The casket, which was draped in national colors and transported across an aisle Tinubu along with Vice President waited in reverence. The salute was quiet, that was given by senior soldiers and officials. No fanfare, just deep respect. The state of mourning has been declared. Shops were shut, and the streets were secluded.
The motorcade slowed its pace through the dusty streets of Katsina, with soldiers in the background and stylish black SUVs. People gathered along the road, with others rubbing their brows in a prayer. A lot of people held their phones to capture the moment. The trip would continue until Daura, the hometown of Buhari’s — for last ceremony.
Local officials were preparing the site at the ancestral home of his family. Islamic clergy were waiting to conduct the prayer of Janazah. The funeral was to take place before sunset according to the religious obligation. The arrangements for his final resting place were made with care. His body was to be buried in the vicinity of his parents, beneath familiar trees.
For Nigerians who were watching from afar this was a moment for closure. It was the conclusion of a period that was interwoven with Nigeria’s contemporary past. His presidency was defined by discipline, the fight against corruption, as well as an uneasy legacy of the rights of civil and security. But in his final voyage these complexities stopped. The only thing that remained was respect.
The slow march Tinubu’s presence was a powerful signal of the unity of mourning and respecting the customs. As night approached Buhari’s body walked closer to his home, the soil that he cultivated during his the past and now lay on after his death.
The day was significant as a chapter was closed and the nation took a breath. In silence and in a ceremony, Nigeria greeted its former leader’s return.
