Peter Obi Shares Buhari’s Message to Him on Campaign Trail

DDM News

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has shared a memorable encounter he had with the late President Muhammadu Buhari during his 2023 presidential campaign.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Obi spoke during the third-day Fidau prayer held in Daura, Katsina State, in honour of Buhari, who died recently in London at the age of 82.

Obi said the late president’s words to him during their brief meeting left a lasting impression that still guides his political convictions.

He recalled that during the campaign, Buhari advised him sincerely to focus on the welfare of Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens.

According to Obi, the former leader told him plainly: “Please care for the poor Nigerians.”

Obi said he has never forgotten that encounter, describing Buhari’s appeal as heartfelt and deeply meaningful.

He added that although he was not close to the late president, that singular meeting convinced him of Buhari’s genuine concern for Nigeria’s poor.

The former Anambra State governor expressed appreciation for Buhari’s humility and the simplicity that many Nigerians associate with his legacy.

He also acknowledged that Buhari, in his own way, tried to serve the nation to the best of his ability.

“I believe he did his best within his capacity,” Obi said while speaking to journalists after the prayer session.

Vice President Kashim Shettima led the federal government delegation to the event, where he conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official condolences to the late president’s family and community.

Shettima described Buhari’s death as a national tragedy and said the late statesman “would truly be missed.”

Top government dignitaries attended the Fidau prayers, including former Attorney-General of the Federation, top military commanders, and several Islamic scholars.

Islamic clerics led the prayers at the open-air gathering, held near Buhari’s family residence in Daura.

Though the formal three-day mourning rites concluded on Wednesday, clerics are expected to continue extended prayers for another seven days.

This arrangement aligns with Islamic funeral traditions and reflects an agreement reached between Buhari’s family, the Katsina State Government, and the presidency.

President Buhari, who ruled Nigeria as both a military leader and democratically elected president, is widely remembered for his ascetic lifestyle, military discipline, and anti-corruption agenda.

Even his critics often acknowledged his simplicity and strong appeal among Nigeria’s rural poor, who affectionately referred to him as “Sai Baba.”

Obi’s reflection on Buhari’s quiet advice to “care for the poor” has sparked fresh conversations around the legacy of leadership in Nigeria.

Political analysts say it is a reminder that, despite ideological differences, there exists a shared national desire to uplift the masses and bridge Nigeria’s growing inequality.

As the nation continues to mourn, Buhari’s final message, echoed by one of his political rivals, may become one of the most enduring reflections on his leadership style.

👇👇👇

Follow DDM’s official WhatsApp Channel for real-time updates.

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vajkwdc4dTnFHl19vW3g

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook