Similar to Gov Uzodimma’s Gaffe: Akpabio Mistakenly Says Nigeria Impressed with Tinubu’s ‘Burial’ Instead of Buhari

In a surprising slip of the tongue, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has ignited a wave of reactions across Nigeria after mistakenly stating that the nation was “proud of how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was honored and buried” during a Senate session on July 23, 2025. The comment, intended to reference the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was laid to rest on July 15, 2025, in Daura, Katsina State, has been labeled a significant gaffe, drawing both criticism and humor online.

Akpabio's gaffe: Nigeria impressed with Tinubu's "burial" instead of Buhari pic.twitter.com/UHUfX1pKWo

— Africa Independent Television (@AIT_Online) July 23, 2025

The incident occurred during a Senate discussion, where Akpabio was commending the dignified state burial organized for Buhari, who passed away on July 13, 2025, in London after a prolonged illness. Instead, Akpabio inadvertently mentioned President Tinubu, who is alive and actively serving as Nigeria’s president. “The whole country is proud of what this administration has done in the way and manner President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was honored and buried… President Buhari, rather. Sorry,” Akpabio corrected himself, but the damage was already done.The gaffe quickly went viral, with social media platforms, particularly X, buzzing with reactions. One user,

@MrAlaboRoland, expressed disbelief, stating, “Just finished watching a video of Akpabio saying that the Nation is proud of how President Bola Tinubu was buried, instead of Buhari .” Another post from

@AIT_Online amplified the moment, headlining it as “Akpabio’s gaffe: Nigeria impressed with Tinubu’s ‘burial’ instead of Buhari.”

This blunder echoes a similar mistake made by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma during a Constitution Review Zonal Public Hearing in Owerri on July 19, 2025. Uzodimma, in a solemn prayer, mistakenly began, “May the soul of former President Bola…” before correcting himself to reference Buhari. The governor’s error also sparked widespread commentary, with critics calling it “insensitive” and social media users creating memes to mock the moment. Some defended Uzodimma, attributing the slip to a momentary lapse, with one X user noting, “We all make mistakes. Let’s not be too harsh.