The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to immortalise the late former President Muhammadu Buhari by naming a national monument in his honour.

The resolution followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during plenary, where lawmakers paid glowing tributes to the late leader and observed a minute’s silence in his memory.

In his motion, Bamidele expressed profound sorrow over Buhari’s passing, describing him as a patriot whose contributions to Nigeria’s development would remain indelible.

“As I move this motion today, I am reminded of the transient nature of human life,” Bamidele said. “However, our consolation is that our former President led a successful and fulfilled life—both as a gallant soldier who rose to the peak of his military career and as a democrat who served two uninterrupted terms as President.”

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Recalling Buhari’s long political journey, Bamidele noted that the former leader contested presidential elections in 2003, 2007, and 2011 before clinching victory in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and securing re-election in 2019. He commended Buhari’s persistence and his role in implementing reforms aimed at socio-economic development.

Bamidele expressed regret over Buhari’s passing on Sunday, July 13, at a hospital in London, describing it as “the end of an era that will remain etched in the minds of Nigerians.”

The Senate Leader further noted that President Bola Tinubu had declared seven days of national mourning and ordered flags to fly at half-mast nationwide in tribute. In alignment, the Senate suspended its activities for one week to honour the late President.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari (APC, Zamfara) described Buhari as a man of integrity, incorruptible and God-fearing, while Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa) praised his unique legacy as both a former military Head of State and civilian President.

Dickson also commended President Tinubu for according Buhari full national honours, calling it “a basic minimum national standard to honour a deceased President.”

In his closing remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio echoed the sentiments of the chamber, stating that Nigeria would miss Buhari “for years to come.”

The Senate’s resolution to immortalise the former President is expected to be forwarded to the Executive arm of government for implementation.