The death of late President Muhammadu Buhari cannot be erased from history. At least not from his family members. Known to capture memories due to her profession as a photographer, Hanan Buhari, one of the daughters of the late leader and statesman recounts her last moment with him.
She would not forget the goodbye kiss she gave her dad and for this, Hanan Buhari thanked Allah. Taking to Instagram, the daughter of late President Buhari would pen it down as an opportunity she didn’t miss. In fact, she saw it as a way of expressing her unconditional love which he taught them while he was alive.
She wrote in a post on Wednesday:
“The pain of your absence is immense, but I’m finding strength in the love you gave me. You’re the reason I know what unconditional love feels like. I thank Allah for giving me the opportunity to give you the final goodbye kiss. Alhamdulilah. Allahummaghfir Lahu Warhamhu. Wassikinhu Fil Jannah Daddy am. I will endure a lifetime of missing you for the privilege of loving you.”
Her tribute came days after Gen. Buhari died in a London hospital on Sunday at the age of 82, following a prolonged illness.
He was laid to rest on Tuesday at his private residence in Daura, Katsina State, after Islamic funeral prayers led by prominent clerics at the Emir’s Palace.
The ceremony, attended by President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, drew dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria.
Also in attendance were President Umaro Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger Republic Ali Zeine, military leaders, former governors, traditional rulers and captains of industry.
A joint military team honoured the former President with a 21-gun salute and farewell parade before his interment.
His body was flown from London aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, accompanied by Shettima and the chief of staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Hanan is a photographer and creative.
She is married to Muhammad Turad Sha’aban and studied photography and media in the UK.
Her heartfelt message added to the outpouring of grief from Nigerians who continue to reflect on the legacy of Buhari’s leadership, both as military ruler (1983–1985) and two-term democratic president (2015–2023).
The Federal Government has declared a seven-day national mourning period in his honour, with flags flying at half-mast across Nigeria and its diplomatic missions.