Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday mistakenly said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been “buried” instead of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The gaffe occurred during a plenary session and was captured in a video now circulating on social media.

“The whole country is very proud of what this administration has done in the way and manner President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was honoured and was buried,” Akpabio said, before pausing and fumbling for a correction.

Realising the gravity of the mistake, he quickly added, “President Buhari, rather. Sorry. President Buhari was honoured and buried. You will also observe that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be forgotten for what he did during the burial ceremony of late President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Video file

SaharaReporters had reported how the remains of Nigeria’s former President, Buhari, were buried in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, last Tuesday.

The Janaza (Islamic funeral prayer) was conducted at approximately 4:50 pm on Tuesday before his body was lowered into the grave, in accordance with Islamic rites.

Buhari’s body arrived in Katsina from London aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other top government officials.

His corpse was received amid tight security, with armoured vehicles, DSS operatives, and heavily armed soldiers stationed along key roads leading to Daura.

President Tinubu attended the funeral alongside his wife, Senator Remi Tinubu, and Akpabio.

A high-powered delegation from the Republic of Niger was likewise present.

Buhari passed away on July 13, 2025, at the age of 82, while receiving medical treatment at a clinic in London, United Kingdom.

His death marked the end of a political career that spanned over five decades, during which he served as both a military ruler and a democratically elected president.