Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umar Radda, has revealed that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari often expressed relief and a sense of peace after leaving office in 2023. Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa podcast service following Buhari’s death on Sunday, Governor Radda recalled his regular visits to the former president in his hometown of Daura, where Buhari spent about two years after his tenure.

“Every two to three weeks, I visited him, and I learned a lot. He was a very jovial man; whenever you interacted with him, you couldn’t help but laugh,” Radda said. “He often spoke about patriotism and the love of country.”

The governor shared that Buhari frequently advised him to be honest and do his best about governance, while emphasising that “only God can save Nigeria.”

“He advised me to do my best and be honest. He always said that he went through alot a lot during his presidency and was more relaxed out of office. He even once told me that he pitied ‘Bola’ as he used to call President Tinubu, knowing how difficult the job could be,” Radda added. Radda also revealed that Buhari admired President Tinubu’s decision to remove the fuel subsidy, describing Tinubu as “courageous” for succeeding over a policy Buhari himself had long attempted but couldn’t implement.

“He used to say ‘Bola is a courageous man, he did what I kept trying to do but I couldn’t do’,” Radda revealed.

LEADERSHIP reports that the late former President Buhari passed away in London with his remains flown back to Nigeria on Tuesday accompanied by a federal delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.

A state burial rites were being observed in Buhari’s honour ahead of his burial in his home in Daura.

Leadership