By Charles Pemu 
Shortly after visiting the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s family on Wednesday, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi addressed his absence from Tuesday’s burial in Daura. He explained that flight unavailability and restricted airspace reserved for high-level dignitaries made travel impossible.
“Yes, it was difficult to come here yesterday because there were no flights,” Obi said.
“Even if you had a flight, you couldn’t land at Katsina Airport. It was all closed because of the number of dignitaries attending the burial.”
Obi emphasized that respecting the deceased extends beyond the burial day:
“It is believed that the mourning continues today and tomorrow. Whoever comes today or tomorrow is still part of the mourning.”
Recounting a past encounter with Buhari during his campaign, Obi recalled the late president urging him to focus on alleviating poverty:
“I remember his words to this day: ‘Please care for the poor Nigerians’… I believe he did his best within his capacity.”
Reflecting on Buhari’s passing, Obi offered a poignant reminder:
“We all have to learn how to serve our country, knowing that one day we will be called back by our creator.”
Buhari was laid to rest with full military honors in Daura on Tuesday, in a ceremony attended by prominent government, diplomatic, and traditional figures.