137
By Oscar Okhifo
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday presided over a special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) held in honour of the late former President, Muhammadu Buhari, who died on Saturday, July 13, in London after a prolonged illness.
The expanded meeting, which took place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was attended by key figures in the administration, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, ministers, presidential aides, and other cabinet members.
Notably absent at the solemn gathering was Aisha Buhari, the former First Lady and widow of the late president. Her absence was conspicuous, especially as several of Buhari’s children were present at the event. No official reason was given for her non-attendance.
The session began with a minute of silence led by President Tinubu, who eulogised Buhari as a man of integrity, humility, and unwavering patriotism.
“In every sense of the word, he was a good man, an honourable man, and a decent man. He was respectful without pretence to his peers and kind to those who served under him,” Tinubu said.
The president praised Buhari’s leadership style and the legacy he left behind, describing him as a selfless leader who served Nigeria diligently and inspired a generation of political actors.
The special FEC session followed President Tinubu’s earlier declaration of a seven-day national mourning period, during which flags are being flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the late former president.
Tinubu had also summoned an emergency FEC meeting on Monday, July 15, to plan full state honours and other funeral arrangements.
The Federal Government is expected to release the full programme for Buhari’s final rites in the coming days.
The absence of the supposed widow of the late president may soar the earlier report that she had divorced the old soldier before death came calling. No word has been heard from the Buharis on one she was far off the seat of power on a day like this.