A Grave Reminder to All Nigerian Leaders: One Day, You Too Will Be No More
By Dr. K.E. Elusoji
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
— Psalm 90:12 (KJV)
The passing of former President and Commander-in-Chief, General Muhammadu Buhari, should not be treated as just another national event. His burial—stripped of presidential grandeur, military command, and national protocols—offers a sobering reminder to the living, especially those in positions of power, wealth, and authority across Nigeria.
I did not cry because he died. I cried because his final rest, free of honors and stripped of all human attachment, revealed a mirror to all of us. I wept for myself, for our nation, and for every leader—political, religious, traditional, corporate, or civic—who has forgotten the weight and sacred responsibility that leadership demands.
We must all pause and reflect. The man who once commanded entire security forces now lies silent, buried beneath wood and soil. There are no more sirens, no bulletproof cars, no security convoys, no protocol, and no executive orders. What remains is not his wealth, not his title, but the weight of how he lived—and the accountability he now faces in eternity.
This moment demands more than routine tributes. It is a divine message: you too will be no more. Power is fleeting. Fame is fragile. Wealth is temporary. The positions we so desperately chase will outlive us, but our legacies will not. Those who looted funds, oppressed the weak, padded budgets, abandoned national projects, or manipulated systems for personal gain must come to terms with this eternal truth: none of those things will matter at the grave.
We’ve all seen mansions built with stolen funds—standing cold and empty in both bustling cities and forgotten villages. Homes never lived in. Dreams that rotted along with their builders’ memories. We’ve seen oppression not only in government, but also in our boardrooms, classrooms, pulpits, homes, and communities. Injustice is no longer distant—it lives among us.
Visit any hospital and witness how strength fades. I have seen once-powerful men now needing help just to walk or use the toilet. I’ve served in hospitals and nursing homes and seen what becomes of the human body—how it withers, how beauty fades, how status becomes meaningless. I’ve seen once-wealthy couples and their children lying in adjacent wards, wasting away, counting days. It is a world of pain, where money cannot rescue, and power cannot speak.
Many blame politicians—and rightfully so—but let’s not be deceived. If given the same opportunity, many who criticize today would do far worse. That is why this message is not just for those in government, but for anyone privileged to lead in any form. Teachers, parents, religious leaders, business owners, community heads—this message is for you too.
So, think carefully about the impact of your life. What are you doing for your nation? How are you alleviating the suffering around you? Use your skills, knowledge, influence, voice, and yes—even your resources—to bring healing, not harm. Let your conscience be able to say, “I did my best.” If others steal, don’t join them. If others lie or suppress the truth, do not imitate them. If others pad budgets or abandon their responsibilities, take a different path. They will pay—and so will you. Every one of us will give account.
Don’t be too busy to serve when the opportunity presents itself. Sometimes the problems created by corrupt and negligent people come back to your doorstep—forcing you to render help you didn’t plan for, and often at a much higher cost. The harm we allow or ignore will eventually affect us all.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
— Galatians 6:7 (KJV)
In the end, it won’t matter how many degrees you earned, how many cars you drove, or how many people bowed before you. You will be remembered for your compassion, not your position. For your humility, not your property. For your righteousness, not your riches. Even if history forgets your name, heaven will not.
One day, those who praise you today will say, “He is gone.” And just like General Buhari, you too will be lowered into the earth. The grave does not honor your office. And God is not impressed by your title.
“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
— Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)
Let your time here count for something eternal. Build what cannot be burned. Serve with a heart for humanity. Fear God. Remember the poor. Because when your name is called on the other side, power and position will be powerless.
Let this not be another article you read and scroll past. Let it be a turning point. A wake-up call. The seed of a new conscience.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
— Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV)
Live purposefully.
Lead righteously.
Serve eternally.
Dr. K.E. Elusoji
IT Consultant | Nation Builder | Pastor
