Akpabio Suffers Gaffe, Says ‘Nigeria Impressed and Proud of How Tinubu Was Buried’

Senate President Akpabio slipped during a tribute to Buhari, mistakenly saying Nigerians were impressed with “Tinubu’s burial” instead of “Buhari’s burial.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday made an embarrassing slip of the tongue while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for organising a befitting state burial for the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. During his remarks, Akpabio mistakenly stated that Nigerians were impressed with “Tinubu’s burial” instead of “Buhari’s burial”.

The gaffe occurred during a Senate plenary session where lawmakers paid tributes to Buhari, who passed away on July 13, 2025, in London. He was buried on July 15, 2025, in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State. The solemn event was attended by high-profile dignitaries including President Tinubu, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, and former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Before the burial, military honours were observed: gunshots were fired in salute, and the national flag draping Buhari’s casket was formally folded and handed to his family.

President Tinubu had declared seven days of national mourning and a public holiday to honour Buhari’s legacy. He also announced that the University of Maiduguri would be renamed Muhammadu Buhari University in memory of the former leader.

The Senate session featured a motion titled, “Emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, Former President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), with various Senators eulogizing the late president.

Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) praised Buhari’s decency and tolerance despite policy disagreements. He stated:

“We may disagree with a leader’s politics or policies, but we must respect their service to the nation. President Buhari lived a life of service. I myself disagreed with some of his policies—like the removal of a Chief Justice, the 10% allocation to host communities in the Petroleum Industry Act, the currency redesign, and his failure to restructure the country. But despite all these, he remained a decent and disciplined man.”

Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) lamented:

“Nigeria lost a leader who gave his all to the nation. If we had more Buharis, this country would be far better.”

Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) urged Nigerians to emulate Buhari’s values of honesty and discipline, while Senator Sadiq Umar (Kwara North) recalled his famous declaration:

“I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.”

Senator Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West), who served as APC National Secretary during Buhari’s 2015 emergence, commended his refusal to allow moneybags hijack his presidential bid:

“Even when someone donated N200 million, he questioned how the donor earned such money.”

Senator Abdul’aziz Yari (Zamfara West) recounted Buhari’s initial hesitation to join politics:

“He was moved into the race by clerics and leaders who persuaded him,” adding that “he relied on his pension and lived humbly.”

In his tribute, Akpabio recounted personal encounters that reflected Buhari’s compassion, saying:

“I want to share a lasting impression. There was something that stood out to me beyond the usual talk of integrity. It was his compassion.

“I was in his office one day when he intended to reassign a minister. He showed me a copy of the letter. Then he said, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I wanted this letter to go out tomorrow, but tomorrow is Friday. I don’t know if he would like it. I don’t want to disappoint his family. Let them enjoy a peaceful weekend. I’ll rather send this letter on Tuesday.’ He withdrew the letter from my hand.

“As I stepped out, I thought of this, a man thinking about the children, the wife, and the family of a minister. It wasn’t even a sack letter, just a reassignment. But he cared enough to consider their weekend. That was the kind of man Buhari was.”

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He also narrated an incident from Buhari’s time as military Head of State:

“There was a woman arrested in Lagos at CMS for selling goods in an unauthorized place. She had a toddler with her and cried endlessly. Under the rules, she faced imprisonment.
Somehow, one of Buhari’s aides told him what had happened. He ordered that the woman be brought to him. He asked her why she was selling there. She said she was a widow with three children.

Buhari then ordered that her children be registered in school, with fees paid. He directed that she be enrolled in a cooperative and given funds to start a business in a proper market. That was the Buhari many people didn’t see.”

He concluded:

“In our country, bad news spreads faster than good. But today, it is important to say that Buhari was not only a man of integrity but also of deep compassion. I commend Senator Adams Oshiomhole for highlighting that today.

“May he rest in peace. He lived a long life, served as an elected President twice, and completed both terms. He retired peacefully, an honour many Nigerians never achieved.

“Our country has been in mourning. I join my colleagues in commending President Tinubu for leading the Senate and government in paying well-deserved respects to our departed president. In doing so, he has set a national standard that should be the minimum for honoring our leaders.”

Despite the gaffe, which sparked quiet murmurs on the floor and reactions online, Akpabio’s speech was otherwise seen as deeply reflective of Buhari’s complex legacy—one marked by discipline, compassion, and firm leadership.