Tunde Bakare, the serving overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, has honoured the memory of former President Muhammadu Buhari with a heartfelt tribute.

Buhari passed away on Sunday at a clinic in London at the age of 82.

In a statement released on Monday, Bakare described Buhari’s life as “extremely impactful”, referring to him as a respected elder statesman and fellow patriot.

He shared memories of their first meeting in 1985 and said Buhari’s policies at the time created the foundation for his journey as a young legal practitioner.

This was a man whose integrity and discipline gave hope to millions of Nigerians across the length and breadth of our nation, he wrote.

This was a man with a dream of a New Nigeria — a dream he lived for; a dream he worked tirelessly towards from his youth; a dream he pursued persistently despite the challenges he encountered; a dream I had the privilege of teaming up with him in his tireless quest to fulfill; a dream that brought tears to his eyes; a dream, the heart of which he shared with me in intimate conversations — a dream that revealed the soul of a man whose lifelong desire was to make life better for the ordinary Nigerian.

He referred to Buhari as a colossus whose kind is hard to replace.

Bakare offered a prayer, hoping that Buhari will be remembered kindly by history and that the Nigeria he envisioned will still come to life even after you have departed.

I express my deep condolences to his beloved wife, former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and to his children and grandchildren. May God, the husband of the widow and the father of the fatherless, fill the void, the statement reads.

And to our dear nation, Nigeria, may God be our strength and comfort in this solemn season.

Rauf Aregbesola, the interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said that his party will unseat Governor Ademola Adeleke in the upcoming 2026 Osun governorship election.

Aregbesola, who previously held the positions of Minister of Interior and Osun State Governor, made this statement on Sunday during a homecoming event held in Osogbo.

He emphasized that his main political objective at the moment is not the 2027 general election but securing victory for ADC in the 2026 Osun governorship election.

He suggested that the 2026 election might not feature the usual three-party race, as there are speculations that Governor Adeleke could defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

We are concerned about 2026 in Osun State. We have started the work for next year’s election now, Aregbesola said, encouraging party members to strengthen mobilisation at the grassroots level.

Leave them to their agitation. Our aim should be to take over Osun State before the vote on August 8, 2026. They already know they are on their way out.

Looking back on his break with the APC, a party he helped build, Aregbesola expressed regret that he was sidelined despite his efforts.

He stated, Those who know my value and worth gave me this new position, and now they are making noise. Their noise doesn’t concern me — they haven’t seen anything yet.

Aregbesola also spoke on the ongoing rumours surrounding Adeleke’s possible political defection: Before we started this journey, they said there would be three political parties in Osun State. It is obvious he is decamping now. We will meet in Abere — ADC will win the Osun governorship race in 2026.

Turning to national matters, Aregbesola criticised the current federal government, blaming it for worsening the economic situation in the country.

The government that makes Nigerians go hungry should not be in power again. Anyone who says Nigeria is better now is part of the problem. It’s clear that yesterday was better than today for us as a nation, he said. Since they assumed office, even the rain no longer falls as it used to. Things are not going well. We must be angry with any government that refuses to address our needs.

Legislative proceedings in the national assembly have been put on hold to pay respect to Muhammadu Buhari, the former president of Nigeria.

Buhari passed away on Sunday at a London clinic after battling a long-term illness.

The clerk of the national assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, shared this update through a statement released on Monday.

“I am directed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives to inform all members of the national assembly and the general public that all legislative activities are hereby suspended immediately until Tuesday, 22 July, 2025,” the statement reads.

“All members of the national assembly are urged to reschedule their engagements to enable full participation in the burial activities of the late president.”

Leaders of both legislative chambers offered their sympathies to the government and citizens of Nigeria, the administration and residents of Katsina state, as well as the late president’s wives, children, and extended relatives.

“President Muhammadu Buhari will be remembered for his commitment to Nigeria’s unity and his integrity,” the statement notes.

“May Almighty Allah grant his soul eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus.”