Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has mourned the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying his death “is a lesson to all power mongers”.

Buhari reportedly died in a London clinic on Sunday at the age of 82.

In a statement on Monday, George described Buhari’s death as a “leveller,” stressing that death eliminates all advantages and disadvantages, making everyone equal regardless of social status, wealth, or power.

“Obviously, death has a humbling power. It eliminates advantages and disadvantages. The moment it strikes, you will realise that all men and women are the same, irrespective of social status, wealth, fame, power, religion and connections. Everybody will end up in six feet. We are all mortals,” he said.

George cautioned against mocking someone’s death, describing it as “un-African” and a matter that belongs to God alone.

“It is also wrong for anybody to mock somebody’s death. It is un-African. God does not like that because judgment belongs to Him alone,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to be sober in the face of Buhari’s passing, noting that life is transient and the power wielded today is temporary.

“As my former boss, I see his death as a lesson to everybody. Life is transient and the power you wield today is temporary. The only permanent power belongs to God Almighty,” he said.

George also used the opportunity to send a message to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, stating that the PDP would not field a Northern candidate as its presidential candidate in 2027.

“I am not against Northerners. In fact, my best friend is still a Fulani man. But the message I am sending to former Vice President Atiku is that PDP, as a party, will not field a Northerner as presidential candidate in 2027. It is the policy of our party as handed over to us by our founding fathers. This is not my personal opinion, but rooted in our party constitution,” he said.

He added, “PDP will look for a Southerner to wrest power from the APC in 2027. A cardinal principle of our party is that it is eight years North, eight years South, simple. It is not my own making. Anything short of this is unacceptable.