…he was a soldier’s soldier
Immediate past Chief of Defense Staff, CDS, General Leo Irabor, Rtd in a tribute to his former Commander in Chief, Late President Muhammadu Buhari said that in every sense, he was a good man.
He made this revelation in a tribute he personally signed declaring that he never met his principal before he was appointed COAS in 2021.
Hear him:
“The news of the passing of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, came to me and my family as a profound shock and source of deep sorrow. I know that we are not alone in this grief-millions of Nigerians at home and
in the diaspora feel the same sense of loss.
“President Buhari was, in every sense, a good man. Before he appointed me as Chief of Defence Staff on 26
January 2021, I had never met him personally.
“Like many Nigerians, I knew him only from a distance-through
the pages of history, the news, and the reverence with which he was spoken of in military circles
” As an Officer
Cadet in the Nigerian Defence Academy during his tenure as Military Head of State, I admired him from afar.
“It was only after my appointment as Chief of Defence Staff that I got to truly know the man behind the public image.
“In our very first meeting, he looked me in the eye and said, “I have never met you before, but I have heard of your performance. I hope you will not disappoint.” That moment has never left me.
“In President Buhari, I encountered a disciplined and deeply principled leader. A soldier’s soldier. A man who said little but listened intently and deeply. He placed implicit trust in those he appointed-never
micromanaging, never second-guessing.
“It was, perhaps, this quiet trust that some may have misunderstood or
even taken for granted.
“But to me, it revealed a depth of character and a rare kind of leadership.
As Commander-in-Chief, he gave unwavering support to the Armed Forces under my watch, within the limits of the nation’s resources.
” He trusted our judgment and believed in our capacity as I assured him that we would
never make excuses. He believed in us that failure was not an end- it was a lesson to be learned, a stepping stone to future success.
“President Buhari was firm, yet fair. He had the humility to yield to superior arguments when convinced by
reason, especially on matters of national security.
” I recall two distinct occasions when I respectfully asked him
to reconsider directives relayed through his staff. After hearing my perspective, he promptly reversed those decisions-without ego, without hesitation.
“On another occasion, I drew his attention to the grave national
security risks of what was then perceived as governmental passivity on a matter of urgent concern.
” He responded with remarkable speed and poise. That moment defined, for me, the essence of true leadership.
At National Security Council meetings, I was often struck by his endurance-sitting for hours, attentive and
composed, never once calling for a break.
” I once asked him, half in jest, how he found the patience and strength.
He only smiled.
Yes, like every mortal, he had his flaws. But within the man I knew- President Muhammadu Buhari –I saw a patriot who loved Nigeria deeply and gave of himself sacrificially.
“He desired a better nation and poured out his energy, time, and strength in pursuit of that dream.
I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have served in his administration, to have walked a part of this journey of nation-building with him.
“On behalf of my family, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the former First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari, the entire
family, friends, and all who mourn this national loss. May you find comfort in the knowledge that your husband,
father, and friend served with dignity, honour, and integrity.
“To my Commander-in-Chief, my Principal – President Mohammadu Buhari, at the sound of the Last Post, rest
well.
“You fought the good fight. May your soul find eternal peace in the bosom of the Almighty.