The Progressive Students Movement (PSM) has paid glowing tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, describing their lives as “quality, symbolic, and worthy of emulation.”

In a statement issued Monday in Enugu and signed by PSM President Bestman Okereafor, the movement said the demise of both national figures — which occurred on Sunday in London (Buhari, 82) and Nigeria (Oba Adetona, 91) — should be viewed as a celebration of impactful leadership, not merely a cause for mourning.

“Rather than mourn, PSM is celebrating the quality lives spent by these great leaders,” Okereafor stated, urging Nigerian youths to draw positive inspiration from their principles of simplicity, integrity, and public service.

The student-led NGO highlighted President Buhari’s key achievements, particularly:

• Revival of the railway system as a viable transport option,
• Massive investments in critical road projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, and the Kaduna-Kano-Zaria Expressway,
• Modernisation of airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, and construction of runways in Abuja and Enugu,
• Launch of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, through which over ₦800 billion was disbursed to more than four million smallholder farmers,
• Anti-corruption efforts via systems like the Treasury Single Account (TSA), IPPIS, and Bank Verification Number (BVN), which uncovered over 50,000 ghost workers.

Okereafor also credited Buhari with expanding social investment and bailout initiatives, injecting ₦2 trillion into state finances, and making “efforts to fight insecurity and reduce poverty.”

On Oba Sikiru Adetona, Okereafor described him as a rare monarch whose reign blended cultural relevance with socioeconomic growth.

“The Awujale enhanced the cultural heritage of Ijebu Kingdom. Under his watch, the Ojude Oba Festival became an international attraction, boosting Ogun State’s revenue and showcasing Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy.”

He was further praised for his unwavering support for education, intellectual development, and fearless contributions to national discourse over 65 years on the throne — the longest reign of any traditional ruler in Nigeria’s modern history.

In his closing remarks, Okereafor offered prayers for the repose of their souls:

“We pray God forgives their shortcomings, for no man is perfect, and grants them eternal rest.”

The statement, issued via the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is one of the first formal youth reactions following the deaths of both prominent figures, underlining their profound impact across generations and sectors of Nigerian society.