Buhari was committed to democracy, progress – ex-IG Okiro

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

A former Inspector General of Police, Dr Mike Okiro, has described the late President Muhammadu Buhari as someone who was committed to democracy, progress and stability.

Okiro, in a statement yesterday, President Buhari’s leadership and vision for Nigeria would be remembered for generations to come.

The former Chairman, Police Service Commission recalled when he was a corps member and selected to visit the late when he was military governor in Borno State, noting that it was a great honour.

He said, “President Buhari’s leadership and vision for Nigeria will be remembered for generations to come.

“His commitment to democracy, stability, and progress will forever be etched in the annals of our nation’s history. As a nation, we have lost a leader who worked tirelessly to ensure the security, unity, and prosperity of our great country.

“I have a cherished memory that stands out vividly in my mind. During my NYSC days in 1977, when President Buhari was the Military Governor of Borno State, I was among the four youth corps members selected to visit the Government House.

“What an honour it was to have a handshake with the Governor himself! That moment has stayed with me all these years, and it’s a testament to the impact he had on the lives of Nigerians.

“As we bid farewell to a leader who has left an indelible mark on our nation’s history, I pray that his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Nigerians. May his soul rest in peace, and may his memory remind us of the importance of service, dedication, and patriotism,” the statement read in part.

Also, a Member representing the South-East on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Sam Ifeanyi Onuigbo, has said that the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari has left a huge vacuum for the country, especially in the fight against climate change.

Onuigbo recalled the tortuous journey of the climate change Bill, which was first declined in the 6th and 7th Assemblies, before the late President declined it in the 8th Assembly and eventually signed it into an Act of the National Assembly on November 17, 2021, during the 9th Assembly, thereby gifting the country with the iconic Climate Change Act.

“By that singular act and focus on proactive legislation, the former President made Nigeria stand tall in the international community. His death has robbed the country of a rich source of international pride.

“Late President Buhari won respect for Nigeria through his insistence on excellence,” Onuigbo stated.

The former lawmaker, who chairs the Security, Climate Change and Special Interventions Committee of the NEDC, said that Buhari made him feel a sense of national pride when he signed the legacy Climate Change Bill into law while surrounded by enthusiastic senior government officials.

He noted that Nigeria’s Climate Change Act, which President Buhari signed into law, created the National Council on Climate Change and also provided the legal framework for Nigeria’s climate action goals, particularly strategies for sustainable economic development and the path to attaining net-zero by 2050-2070.

Onuigbo maintained that but for Buhari’s determined and quick intervention in ensuring that Nigeria had a legislative framework for energy sustainability and transition through the signature Climate Change Act, the country would have continued to be an onlooker at successive United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)-organised Conference of Parties (COP).

He stated, “Thanks to Buhari, Nigeria did not attend COP 27 empty-handed. We went to the COP27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with heads held high as we participated actively in discussions leading to the agreement to establish a “loss and damage” fund to assist developing countries in addressing the adverse effects of climate change.

“This fund, officially named the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), aims to provide financial assistance to vulnerable nations grappling with climate-related impacts, including extreme weather events and slow-onset events.”

The former lawmaker, who sponsored the Climate Change Bill, recalled that Buhari was moved by the far-reaching resolution of the COP 26 Summit, that held in Glasgow, Scotland, to immediately sign the Bill, which was passed by the 9th National Assembly.

While remarking that Buhari would be sorely missed, Rep Onuigbo, praised the contributions of members of the 9th National Assembly led by the Speaker, the current Chief of Staff to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, to the making of the signature Climate Change Act.