By Ayomide Otitoju
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved an expanded special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to honour the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on Sunday, July 13, in a London hospital at the age of 82 following a prolonged illness.
The announcement was made in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the commemorative FEC session will be held on Thursday, July 17, at 5:00 p.m., with President Tinubu expected to lead tributes to the late statesman.
Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the event was postponed to accommodate the state funeral in Daura, Katsina State.
An additional statement from the Ministry of Information confirmed that the expanded session will include members of the National Assembly, judiciary officials, and representatives of the late president’s family.
Further memorial events include a special prayer session at the National Mosque, Abuja, on Friday, July 18, and a special church service on Sunday, July 20.
President Tinubu had earlier declared a seven-day national mourning period, during which national flags were ordered to be flown at half-mast. A public holiday was also observed on Tuesday, July 15, for Buhari’s burial.
In a tribute personally signed by President Tinubu, he described Buhari as “a patriot, a soldier, and a statesman.”
“He served Nigeria with unwavering dedication, first as a military leader from 1984 to 1985, and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023,” Tinubu wrote. “He championed discipline in public service, confronted corruption head-on, and placed the country above personal interest at every turn.”
“We honour his service. We reflect on his legacy. And we pray for the peaceful repose of his soul,” the President added.
