Veteran journalist and former Kwara State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, has paid glowing tributes to former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing his passing as a monumental loss to the nation.
In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, Adedoyin reflected on Buhari’s enduring legacy, praising his anti-corruption crusade and efforts to revive the economy and strengthen national institutions.
“He will be remembered for his legacy of public service and impact on Nigerian politics,” Adedoyin stated.
Offering a personal and historical perspective, the journalist recalled how his view of Buhari evolved over time.
“I was not a fan (in fact, I was an antagonist) of General Muhammadu Buhari when he was Nigeria’s military head of the state,” he said.
“I was in the final year at the University of Lagos when he seized power in 1984. I was not an activist but the ‘aluta continua’ spirit drove me to be against his regime. The dislike was heightened by his regime’s draconian decrees (especially Decree 4 of 1984) that resulted in the jailing of journalists.”
However, Adedoyin said his perception changed over the years as Buhari transitioned into democratic leadership.
“But by divine favour, GMB got transformed into a statesman of immense national value. He became a national icon for his spartan lifestyle and a folk hero,” he said.
A fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Adedoyin recalled with pride two memorable occasions in 2021 when Buhari personally acknowledged his achievements.
“I hold as a trophy President Buhari’s congratulatory messages to me on the two occasions that mattered to me in 2021,” he said.
“The first, my 60th birthday in July and the second, my election in Vienna, Austria, in September into the executive board of the International Press Institute representing Nigeria and Africa. My election was witnessed by a Federal Government representative sent specifically for that purpose from Nigeria.”
He concluded by praying for the former president’s peaceful rest: “May Allah grant him Aljanah Firdaus.”
