By General Lucky E. O. Irabor
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 Muhammadu 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.
General Lucky E. O. Irabor (Rtd), CFR, immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Nigeria