Buhari’s Legacy Is One of Integrity and Selflessness — Ismael Ahmed

President Muhammadu Buhari will be remembered not only for his leadership but also for the personal values he embodied throughout his public life, according to Ismael Ahmed, Executive Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the North-East and Grassroots Initiatives (PCNGI).

In a heartfelt tribute following the former president’s passing, Ahmed praised Buhari’s austere lifestyle and deep commitment to public service. “He never engaged with materialism or personal interests of any kind,” Ahmed said, pointing to Buhari’s well-known reputation for modesty and his unwavering focus on the national interest.

Ahmed described Buhari as a rare kind of leader, driven by patriotism and a desire to give back to a country that shaped his life. “He was simply a person who just wanted to give back to a country that gave him so much,” he said, highlighting Buhari’s decades-long service in both military and civilian leadership roles.

From his tenure as military head of state in the 1980s to his two-term presidency from 2015 to 2023, Buhari consistently championed values of discipline, accountability, and national unity. According to Ahmed, his leadership was rooted in a profound sense of duty, not the pursuit of personal gain.

As Nigeria enters a new chapter, Ahmed emphasized that Buhari’s legacy should serve as a moral compass for the next generation of leaders. “In an age where trust in leadership is fragile, Buhari stood out as someone who could not be swayed by personal gain,” he noted. “He leaves behind a moral legacy that will endure.”

Ahmed called on public servants to emulate Buhari’s example by upholding integrity, prioritizing national interest, and rejecting the temptations of power and wealth. For many, he said, Buhari’s memory will remain a benchmark of selfless leadership in Nigerian history.