By Omilani Debo, writing from Lagos

The quiet town of Daura witnessed history and deep reflection on July 15, 2025, as former President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest. With full military honors and the weight of national memory, the burial was not just a farewell it was a moment of soul-searching for a nation and its leaders.

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu bowed solemnly before the body of his predecessor, he seemed to capture what many were thinking but few could voice: “One day, we will all be like this returning our bodies to the earth, as the journey to eternity begins.” In that silent moment, stripped of protocol and power, we were reminded that titles fade, wealth passes, but legacy whether good or bad endures.

Muhammadu Buhari’s journey began in 1942 in Daura, born into a modest Fulani family. From military general to Head of State in 1983, and later a democratically elected president in 2015, his path was marked by discipline and service. Yes, his presidency was controversially praised by some, condemned by others. Critics point to economic struggles and rising insecurity during his tenure. Yet, one cannot deny the image of a man who lived modestly and fought corruption with rare personal conviction.

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching,” C.S. Lewis once said. For all his flaws, Buhari lived by this mantra in many aspects of his public and private life.

The moment Buhari’s son, Yusuf, stepped forward to hold President Tinubu’s hand was more than an emotional gesture it was symbolic. A younger generation consoling a present leader over the passing of one who had gone ahead. It was as if time stood still to whisper a reminder: No matter your title today, your body will one day lie still, and your deeds will speak louder than your voice ever did.

We must ask ourselves: What legacy are we building? As we strive for success, are we thinking of how we will be remembered? “The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it,” said William James. Buhari played his part. Whether we agree with how he played it or not, he left a record. What about you?

In that funeral setting amid uniforms, dignitaries, and religious rites there was an invisible but undeniable presence: conscience. Some may have stood in silence out of formality, but the air was thick with reflection. Nigeria must return to the path of conscience, where we measure leadership and citizenship not by tribal or political allegiance, but by character and contribution.

As Scripture reminds us: “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Whether you are in a place of power or obscurity, whether you are doing good or sowing harm in your corner of life remember, the heavens are watching. The cloud is a witness. Change your ways while you still can. If you obey your conscience, your end can be honorable. If not, as Buhari’s death has reminded us, the end is always nearer than we think.

Power fades. Money vanishes. Positions pass on. But integrity, service, and the fear of God endure. The truest legacy isn’t carved in stone, but in the hearts of those you touched and the values you stood for. Even if some curse Buhari in death, they cannot erase the parts of him that stood tall his commitment to modest living and public probity.

So I ask you: When the crowd gathers at your own funeral, what will they say? Will your children stand proud? Will your colleagues remember kindness, honesty, and honor? Or will your grave be a place of whispered regret?

As we bid farewell to Muhammadu Buhari, let us not miss the deeper call echoing across Nigeria: Live right, lead well, and leave behind more than a title leave a testimony.

“What we do in life echoes in eternity.” – Marcus Aurelius. Let that echo be worth hearing starting now.