The remains of former president, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari was around 3pm yesterday, committed to the earth in Shagari town, Sokoto State.
Afterwards, special prayers were offered for the soul of the late president.
Present at the event were; President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, as well as politicians, elder statesmen, friends and well wishers of the departed.
Shagari died on Friday evening at the National Hospital, Abuja at the age of 93.
He was born February 25, 1925 – December 28, 2018 and served as the first and only president of Nigeria’s Second Republic (1979–1983), after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military government. Shagari also served seven times in a ministerial or cabinet post as a federal minister and federal commissioner from 1958–1975.
Shagari was made the Turaki of the FulaSokoto Caliphate in 1962 by the Sultan of Sokoto Siddiq Abubakar III. Turaki means an officer at court, in this case referring to the sultan’s court at the palace of Sokoto. In addition, he also holds the chieftaincy titles of the Ochiebuzo of Ogbaland, the Ezediale of Aboucha and the Baba Korede of Ado Ekiti.
He worked as a teacher for a brief period before entering politics in 1951 and in 1954 was elected to the federal House of Representatives.
Early life
Shagari was born in the northern Shagari village founded by his great-grandfather, Ahmadu Rufa’i, who was also the Village Head, and took the name Shagari as his family name. His father’s name is Aliyu and his mother’s name is Mariamu. He was raised in a polygamous family, and was the sixth child born into the family. Prior to becoming Magajin Shagari (magajin means village head), Aliyu, Shehu’s father was a farmer, trader and herder. However, due to traditional rites that prevented rulers from participating in business, Aliyu relinquished some of his trading interest when he became the Magaji, or village head, of Shagari village. Aliyu died five years after Shehu’s birth, and Shehu’s elder brother, Bello, briefly took on his father’s mantle as Magajin Shagari.
Shagari started his education in a Quranic school and then went to live with relatives at a nearby town, where from 1931-1935 he attended Yabo elementary school. In 1936-1940, he went to Sokoto for middle school, and then from 1941-1944 he attended Kaduna College.
Teaching career
Between 1944 and 1952, Shehu Shagari, matriculated at the Teachers Training College, in Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria. From 1953-1958, Shagari got a job as a visiting teacher at Sokoto Province. He was also a member of the Federal Scholarship Board from 1954-1958.
Political career
Shagari entered politics in 1951, when he became the secretary of the Northern People’s Congress in Sokoto, Nigeria, a position he held until 1956.
In 1954, Shehu Shagari was elected into his first public office as a member of the federal House of Representative for Sokoto west. In 1958, Shagari was appointed as parliamentary secretary (he left the post in 1959) to the Nigerian Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and that year he also served as the Federal Minister for commerce and Industries.
From 1959-1960, Shagari was redeployed to the ministry for economic development, as the Federal Minister for Economic Development. In 1960-1962, he was moved to the Pensions ministry as the Federal Minister for Pensions. From 1962-1965, Shagari was made the Federal minister for internal affairs. From 1965 up until the first military coup in January 1966, Shagari was the Federal minister for works.
In 1967 he was appointed as the secretary for Sokoto province education development fund. From 1968-1969, Shagari was given a state position in the North Western State as commissioner for establishments.
After the Nigerian civil war, from 1970-1971, Shagari was appointed by the military head of state General Yakubu Gowon as the federal commissioner for economic development, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
From 1971-75 he served as the Federal commissioner (position now called minister) of finance. During his tenure as the commissioner of finance for Nigeria, Shagari was also a governor for the world bank and a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) committee of twenty.
In 1978, Shehu Shagari was a founding member of the National People’s Party. In 1979 Shagari was chosen by the party as the presidential candidate for general election that year, which he won becoming the president and head of state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Shagari ran for a second four-year term in 1983 and won the general election, however, on 31 December 1983, Shagari was overthrown by major general Muhammadu Buhari.
Personal life
Shagari married three wives: Amina, Aishatu and Hadiza Shagari. He has many children. However, His most visible children are Captain Muhammad Bala Shagari Rtd. and Aminu Shehu Shagari.
On 24 August 2001, his wife, Aisha Shagari, died in a London hospital from a brief illness.
What he did for Nigeria – Obj
Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday extolled the virtues of late former president, Shehu Shagari’s role in Nigeria’s pre- and post-independence politics.
Obasanjo gave the eulogy in a condolence letter addressed to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
He described the late Shagari as a humble, patriotic, amiable and notable Nigerian leader.
Obasanjo expressed his deep respect for the achievements of the late Shagari in the course of his long life, describing him as one of the principal actors in Nigeria’s pre-independence and post-independence politics.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to say how deeply grieved I was to hear of the death of His Excellency, President Shehu Usman Shagari.
“On behalf of my family and on my own behalf, I wish to commiserate with you, the entire members of his family and the good people of Sokoto State over the passing of this humble, patriotic, amiable and notable Nigerian leader.
“He held various positions as a parliamentarian in the Federal House of Representatives representing Sokoto West in 1954, as a Parliamentarian Secretary 1958-1959, as a Federal Minister and Commissioner in different ministries and capacities between 1959 and 1975.
“I remember his role as Commissioner for Finance, while he and I served in the government of General Yakubu Gowon. He was thorough.
“And later, I saw him as my successor in government as a democratically-elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983.
“In all his national assignments, he was forthright, dedicated and showed great commitment in the discharge of his duties.
“He was a unifying force for the nation and his contribution to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria cannot easily be forgotten.
“In all situations, he lived nobly and he died in nobility.
“President Shagari died at a time the country and its leadership is in dire need of such leadership, experience and wisdom to tackle the multi-faceted challenges facing the nation.
“While expressing our sympathies to you, the family of the deceased and the government and people of Sokoto State, we pray the Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest and give comfort to all those he left behind”.
PMB under fire for mourning Shehu Shagari
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari for mourning Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the first Executive President of Nigeria.
Shagari, 93, died on Friday at the National Hospital after a brief illness.
CUPP spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, in a statement on Saturday, said Buhari was one of the officers who dethroned the Shagari government in 1983 and should save his condolences.
He said: “We commiserate with the Shagari family, the Sokoto State Government and indeed all Nigerians on such a huge loss of a nationalist and elder statesman per excellence particularly at these very challenging times. We also pray God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
“President Shagari was a democrat who believed in the supremacy of the power of the people and only succumbed to the barrel of the gun of people who did not and still do not believe in the tenets of democracy and the supremacy of the rule of law.
“We however urge President Muhammadu Buhari to keep his tributes in honour of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
“The Grand Alliance leadership has directed all the over 50 parties in the opposition coalition to fly their party flags at half mast as mark of respect to this great hero.
“Nigeria shall overcome this loss by the special grace of God and democracy will once again not fail in our time.”
Why Buhari should have been killed – Atiku
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar on Friday said President Muhammadu Buhari should have been executed if Nigeria’s system was working.
Atiku said Buhari should have been killed for overthrowing a democratically elected government in 1983.
The Waziri of Adamawa, who spoke through his Media Aide, Paul Ibe, was reacting to a remark from Buhari’s campaign spokesperson, Festus Keyamo.
Keyamo had claimed that the former Vice President should have been jailed for corruption if the country’s system was working.
In a statement he issued, Keyamo claimed that Atiku was on the verge of committing suicide.
Reacting to Keyamo’s comment, Ibe, who took to his Twitter handle wrote: “Festus Keyamo should be careful what he brings on himself and APC campaign.
“If Nigeria had a working system, Muhammadu Buhari should have been executed for overthrowing a democratically elected government in 1983.”
Shagari, who won his second term election was, however, overthrown by a coup d’etat that brought in Buhari as Military Head of State.
…Buhari, Saraki, Dogara, Jonathan, pay tribute
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the demise of former president of Nigeria, Shehu Shagari.
Shagari, 93, died Friday evening at the National Hospital Abuja after a brief illness.
His death was announced by his grandson, Bello Shagari, via his Twitter handle.
In a statement signed by the president’s special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari described the death as the departure of a patriot whose life of service and humility was widely acknowledged.
“On behalf of my family, the government and the people of Nigeria, it is with immense sadness that I received the news of the passing away of the First Executive President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari which event happened Friday in Abuja,” he said.
President Buhari restated part of the birthday message he sent to the late ex-president last February when he said, “we are enthralled and regaled with the many years of unequalled patriotism, sacrifices and contributions to national development. More specifically, we celebrate the role modelling qualities of integrity, diligence and humility that have been the hallmark of your visionary leadership.”
Also, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, on Friday, described hagari as the “Last of the First and Second Republic Titans.”
Saraki stated that Shagari was a man of peace who dedicated the greater part of his life to the service of the fatherland.
He noted that the deceased would be remembered for his contributions to the political and socio-economic development of the country as well as his peaceful disposition.
“Let’s be consoled by the fact that Alhaji Shagari lived his life in the service of God and country,” he said.
Similarly, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan described him as a “nation builder who cemented a good relationship between the North and South.”
In a statement by Ikechukwu Eze, the former president’s spokesman, Jonathan described Shagari as a nice man with a clean heart who was sincere and selfless in service.
“Late President Shagari was a very nice man with a clean heart. As a President, he was humble, sincere and selfless in service. He was indeed a true democrat who left no one in doubt about his loyalty to his country, love for peace, desire for unity and vision for a greater Nigeria.
“Shagari was an exceptional leader and exemplary statesman whose modesty, commitment to common good and deep sense of patriotism will continue to inspire many generations of Nigerians.”
In his reaction, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in a condolence message by his spokesperson, Turaki Hassan, stated that the former president was a true democrat and an icon of transparency.
“We have lost a father, man of peace, true democrat, patriot and a nationalist.
“He led an exemplary life of service to God and country worthy of emulation, he was a president for all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or region.
“President Shagari led Nigeria with dignity and honour and respected the independence of the legislature and judiciary in the second republic under the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN).”
In a similar statement, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, expressed deep grief over the passing of the Second Republic President.
He described the death as “a heavy loss to the nation”, noting that the late politician was a “sage, democrat, and statesman.”
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, also described Mr Shagari’s death as a sad loss to the entire country.
Wike stated this in a condolence message signed by Simon Nwakaudu, his special assistant on electronic media.
He said the late president would be remembered for his patriotic contributions to the development of the country.
His Edo State compatriot, Godwin Obaseki, also mourned the passing of the former president.
The governor said Shagari played an active role in the growth and development of Nigeria, and until his death, rendered invaluable support to successive administrations for the uplift of the country.
…Emir of Ilorin condoles Sultan
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has commiserated with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, over the death of former President Shehu Shagari.
In his condolence message to the Sultanate Council issued on Friday by the National Secretary of Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, the Emir described Shagari’s death as a great loss to humanity.
The monarch also condoled with the Sultanate Council, government and people of Sokoto State and the entire Nigerians.
He however urged Sultan Saad Abubakar to find solace in the fact that late Shehu Shagari who was until his death the Turaki’n Sokoto lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation.
The Emir therefore prayed Allah to grant him eternal rest, forgive his shortcomings and give his families and nation at large the
fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
… Saraki leads delegation to Sokoto, Monday
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki will on Monday lead a powerful delegation to Sokoto to condole with the Shagari’s family, the government and people of the state on the demise of the first elected President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari.
In a statement in Ilorin yesterday, Saraki’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that Saraki saw the death of the nationalist and the last of the Nigerian titans who directed the affairs of the country in its teething days in the First and Second Republics as a national loss.
“The Senate President will be at the head of a delegation that will visit Sokoto not only to commiserate with the family of the late nationalist but with the people of Sokoto State and the entire country because late Alhaji Shagari represented so many good pages in the history book of our dear country.
“At the most critical times in the life of the nation, Alhaji Shagari was there as part of the group directing the affairs. He was part of the people who won independence from the colonialists, proved that Nigerians could direct the affairs of their country, saved Nigeria from disintegration when the unity of the country was threatened and was the pioneer elected President of Nigeria when the nation first experimented with the presidential system of government.
“Even in his retirement from politics, he silently worked for the unity and progress of Nigeria. Alhaji Shagari was a genuine democrat. He had been a stabilizing factor in Nigeria. He deserves a special honour from all Nigerians. Both the Federal and Sokoto State Governments should name befitting monuments in his honour”, Saraki stated.
