“The last of the three Mahdis has fallen”– Fani-Kayode pays tribute to late Former President Buhari

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has paid tribute to late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died in a London hospital after battling an undisclosed illness.

In his statement, Fani-Kayode described Buhari as “the last of the three great Mahdis,” placing him alongside Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio and Sir Ahmadu Bello, two revered northern leaders. He noted that all three were admired for their dedication to faith, justice, and resistance to oppression.

Fani-Kayode also questioned who in northern politics could fill the void left by Buhari’s passing.

Fani-Kayode wrote on X: “With yesterdays tragic passing it is clear that the last of the three great Mahdis and most formidable warriors and messianic leaders of Northern Nigeria has finally fallen.

“The first was Sheik Usman Dan Fodio, who founded and established the Sokoto Caliphate, the second was Sir Ahmadu Bello, who was the erstwhile Premier of the old Northern Region and the Sardauna of Sokoto and the third was General Muhammadu Buhari, who was the immediate past President of Nigeria and the man that was commonly referred to by the Northern masses as ‘Mai Gaskiya’.”