₦airaland Forum

THE NAMES OF THE PALL BEARERS

President Tinubu Receives Remains of Former President Buhari in Katsina Ahead of Final Rites in Daura

July 15, 2025

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday received the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina.

President Tinubu arrived at the airport from Abuja at 1:42 p.m. and inspected a guard of honour before the Nigerian Air Force plane conveying the remains of his predecessor landed at exactly 1:51 p.m.

Former President Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a London hospital.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, President Buhari’s wife Aisha, and other family members accompanied President Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.

President Tinubu, along with Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Umaru Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou, and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, received the casket of the late president at the foot of the aircraft.

A joint team of military pallbearers comprising nine senior officers laid the casket, draped with the Nigerian flag, on a trolley. The team included Major-General Mohammed Usman, Major-General Oluwafemi Williams, Major-General Shuaibu Nuhu, Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ajodo, Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa, Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Herbert Amesinlola, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sanni, and Air Vice Marshal Obinna Obiabaka. Major General Mike Alechenu coordinated the team.

The pallbearers wheeled the former leader’s casket in a slow march, in sync with the hymn “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” passing through a full military guard of honour comprising six officers and 96 soldiers drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces.

President Tinubu and others walked behind the casket trolley in a solemn procession. The pallbearers escorted the casket into a waiting military hearse for the one-hour journey to Daura, where funeral prayers and the burial ceremony would take place.

The state funeral featured full military honours, including a 21-gun salute.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
July 15, 2025

https://statehouse.gov.ng/news/president-tinubu-receives-remains-of-former-president-buhari-in-katsina-ahead-of-final-rites-in-daura/

The body of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Muhammadu Buhari's final rank while in service was major general, but as commander in chief he had the rank of field marshal.


The pall bearers at Muhammadu Buhari's funeral were major generals, rear admirals and air vice marshals. But there was one exception. Surprisingly the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, acted as a pall bearer.



One of the pall bearers at President Buhari's funeral was Major General Mike Alechenu. He's one of the Nigerian soldiers that defended Mammy Yoko Hotel in Sierra Leone in 1997.

There's a hotel in Freetown called Mammy Yoko Hotel. Lots of foreign journalists and NGO officials stayed at the hotel. Rebels became convinced that Nigerian Ecomog troops were about to attack them from the hotel (the hotel had a helipad).

The rebels attacked the hotel and the Nigerians were outnumbere 3 to 1, but they managed to defend the hotel and chase away the rebels. The Nigerian Government sent more troops to Sierra Leone that same week. This is a video of the battle from inside the hotel.


The video also shows US troops evacuating some civilians from Freetown.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knpxnNb9JQw?si=zdTJELtwVY_7odoG

The casket or body of a fallen hero is usually draped with the flag during the funeral and then the flag is given to his next of kin before burial.

The flag was removed from President Buhari's body and Major General Mike Alechenu gave it to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Musa, who gave it to President Tinubu who gave it to Aisha Buhari.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8ElUHUif50?si=pvx2jHOxqBiCRzef

Photo 1) Lieutenant Mike Alechenu on the roof of Mammy Yoko Hotel, Sierra Leone in 1997.

Photos 2 and 3) Major General Mike Alechenu gives the flag to the CDS.

Photo 4) Aisha Buhari hugs the flag.

UN Secretary-General

Antonio Guterres @antonioguterres

Deeply saddened by passing of former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.

He played a key role for regional peace & security & was a strong advocate for multilateral & regional cooperation.

My heartfelt condolences to his family, the Government & the people of Nigeria.

https://x.com/antonioguterres/status/1945251831073878026?t=VPPdzu1WYdZQ43AgI6dBfw&s=19

Prime Minister of India

Narendra Modi @narendramodi

Deeply saddened by the passing of former President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari. I fondly recall our meetings and conversations on various occasions. His wisdom, warmth and unwavering commitment to India–Nigeria friendship stood out. I join the 1.4 billion people of India in extending our heartfelt condolences to his family, the people and the government of Nigeria.

@officialABAT

@NGRPresident

https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1944634361799671941?t=PvFoUIMfRMseR2EJ_euyTw&s=19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM5UJ18zOQ4?si=COIjP9AurH96Wjde

Dr Goodluck Jonathan (former president of Nigeria) and Nana Akufo-Addo (former president of Ghana) pay a condolence visit to General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Vice President Kashim Shettima in London (both men also visited the Buhari Family).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCPLNpgYTI8?si=hvX6yM7UwA86kceW

Very many world leaders, from Saudi Arabia, UAE, India, Gambia, etc. sent condolence messages. Many of them also posted these messages on their social media accounts.

The former president of Ghana was in London to see the family before the body was brought back.

Leaders of neighbouring countries were also at the funeral.

All of these have been reported many times with pictures and videos.

Don't just post the propaganda that you were given to post. Read, research, find out if what they gave you is true or not.

Proudlyngwa:
Heard president of Gambia was among the dignitaries, don't know how true that is.

I heard it too, but I searched for him in all the photos and couldn't find him.

However, many Gambians are paying tribute to Buhari on Twitter. When their former president, Yahaya Jammeh, refused to leave office after losing the election, President Buhari ordered the Nigerian military to help remove him. Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jets flew over Banjul, NNS Centenary was sent to the Gambia and Nigerian and Senegalese troops marched into the country. All these were enough to convince Jammeh to leave, so Gambians are remembering and thanking Buhari.

Proudlyngwa:
Maybe its TVCs poor lighting, he looks different and way younger.
I recognised Shettima, Missus recognised Yar'Adua's brother instantly .

Everyone recognised PBAT.

What other countries leaders were around.

Shout out to Yusuf, young man was composed

President Umaru Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger Republic Ali Lamine Zeine and former President of Niger Republic, Issoufou Mahamadou.

Proudlyngwa:
@Naptu2
Please any idea on who the marked guy on brown is.

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State.

---

Governor Dikko Radda in tears.

Yusuf Buhari is opposite the governor.

The service chiefs are beside the buglers.

President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima are seated near the wall.

Despite the rhetoric and cold war, the Prime Minister of Niger is there, as are leaders from other countries.

Senator Yar'Adua (President Yar'Adua's younger brother) is also there.

Onyeka Gamero is moving from Barcelona to Bay FC.

semid4lyfe:
Osasu and Asisat have beef history so I don't entirely believe that Osasu asked that question with a clear conscience.

Remember some years back Osasu Obayiuwuna was selected by CAF to vote on behalf of Nigerian football media for the CAF women footballer of the year, and when CAF released the vote breakdown, it emerged that he voted for Tabitha Chawinga of Malawi instead of Asisat Oshaola.

Asisat eventually won the award that year but many Nigerians dragged him on social media for not voting Asisat, labelling his action unpatriotism, sabotage and a betrayal. Osasu doubled down that he was there not to protect nigerian interest but express his professional judgement, and his assessment was Tabitha Chawinga was more deserving of the award.

As a result of that issue, Asisat blocked him on Twitter. I may be wrong but it's not impossible that Osasu asked that question of the coach with an ulterior motive.

Yes and in addition to what you said, people that are opposed to Osasu's political views still use that issue to attack him, so he hasn't forgotten it.

It was because of the back and forth with his opponents that Asisat blocked him (they were attacking him, so in an effort to defend himself it looked like he was criticising and downplaying Asisat's abilities).

Governor Dikko Radda in tears.

Yusuf Buhari is opposite the governor.

The service chiefs are beside the buglers.

President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima are seated near the wall.

Despite the rhetoric and cold war, the Prime Minister of Niger is there, as are leaders from other countries.

Senator Yar'Adua (President Yar'Adua's younger brother) is also there.

bkool7:
When you start reeling out bogus achievements.

The OP won't open a thread if he didn't want us to express our opinions by reacting to his comment. He even asked us to express our opinions, and that was what I did

How does any of the things that you posted amount to putting words in your mouth or saying you need help?

bkool7:
Do not put words in our mouth .

His memories are still quite vivid in our minds . We don't need help .

Meanwhile, what is bogus to you might not be bogus to someone else.

The Last Post And 21 Gun Salute At The Funeral Of President Buhari (Video)

The Last Post is a bugle call that is used in Commonwealth countries at military funerals and remembrances. The American equivalent is Taps.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEXKJgDXo6g?si=Zi-qWIDPOyTm_VOA

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @MayorofLondon

This is Lagos 🇳🇬

Africa’s cultural capital - from Nollywood to Afrobeats to fashion. I’m here to deepen our cultural ties and celebrate what unites us.

https://x.com/MayorofLondon/status/1945054709091328413?s=19