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President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the news of the passing away of the First Executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
The president’s condolence message was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday.
The President said: “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 on Friday in Abuja.”
He described the death as the departure of a patriot whose life of service and humility was widely acknowledged.
President Buhari recalled part of the birthday message he (Buhari) sent to him 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.”
The President was grateful to God that Shagari lived to a ripe age and led an exemplary life, which he urged Nigerians of all walks of life to emulate.
“Nigerians held him in the highest esteem even when he was out of office until his demise and will forever miss his wise counsels,’’ he added.
He prayed that almighty God would comfort the family of the ex-president and all those who mourned him and will grant the soul of the former president eternal rest.
In similar vein, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki also extolled the virtues of the departed for Nigerian leader.
Saraki, whose reaction came in two tweets via his verified Twitter handle, said the late elder statesman “dedicated his best years in the service of our nation and its people.”
He said, “My family and I join the entire nation to mourn the passing of former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who led our nation in the Second Republic.
“President Shagari was a quintessential public servant, haven served in seven cabinet positions and as a legislator.
“He dedicated his best years in service of our nation and its people.
“May Allah grant him a place among the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdaus.”
Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara also mourned former PresidentShagari, describing him as a father and true democrat.
In a condolence message by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the speaker stated that the former president was 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,” he said.
Dogara said that the late 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).
According to him, he was a bridge builder and one of the major highlights of his presidency was the alliance he formed between the NPN and the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), in accordance with his politics of give and take.
”His demise is a big loss to Nigeria and all lovers of democracy on the African continent.
”His death came at a time we are in dire need of his elderly wisdom and counsel as we navigate the most challenging pace as a nation.
”We extend our heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, especially his eldest son, Rep Aminu Shagari, who is our colleague in the House of Representatives, the people of Sokoto state, the Sultanate Council and government of Sokoto over this irreparable loss.
Former Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has also expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, GCFR.
Babangida, one of the military officers that toppled Shagari’s government in December 1983, issued a statement of condolence, in which he also described Shagari as the “quintessential public servant who was “Beckoned to Serve”.
“My heart and prayers go to his Family, the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Sokoto Caliphate and Sokoto state”, Babangida wrote..
” Nigeria and indeed Africa has lost a statesman and democrat whose wisdom, counsel, presence and experience and his sterling qualities of honesty and transparency are needed in these very trying moments of our national life.
“President Shehu Shagari was a great patriotic leader and an accomplished gentleman, at first a teacher, an administrator, a technocrat and an honest decent unassuming simple Nigerian Leader.
“He will be remembered for his tolerance and politics of peace without bitterness.
” President Shehu Shagari was a nationalist who never showed any discrimination due to ethnicity or religion and was a very dependable bridge builder.
“To keep his memory alive Nigerian politicians and indeed all fellow Nigerians must put to practice all his ideals of peace and party politics without rancour, irrespective of any form of provocation.
Babangida urged all persons vying for political offices to emulate him and keep alive the political principles of the late Turakin Sokoto.
“I pray for the repose of his soul in Jannatul Firdaus. I pray that the entire nation, his Family, Sokoto State and indeed the Sokoto Caliphate will accept his passing with equanimity”, Babangida added
The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Friday described late Alhaji Shehu Shagari as a statesman, patriot and political stabiliser who served the country well in different capacities.
In a statement issued by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman in Lagos, Tinubu said that Shagari, who entered politics in 1951, served the country in different capacities and served well.
He said that late Shagari particularly helped in advancing the country ‘s democracy and had the temperament for good leadership.
”Former President Shehu Shagari was a decent man and a statesman, who believed in and worked for the unity of this country.
”He served Nigeria in different capacities – administrator, provincial secretary, House of Representatives member, minister in several ministries and president – and in each capacity he did excellently well.
“He contributed his quota to the growth and development of the country.
”In the Second Republic, as the first executive president, his was a moderating voice, a stabilising factor.
”Even within the defunct NPN, with all its reputation, he was of a different type. He wore integrity on his collar like a badge of honour, ” he said.
Tinubu said that late Shagari’s background as a school teacher, his maturity and moderation helped to mould his politics.
“He was true and pure. He was humble and humane. He led a Spartan way of life. He was modest and unpretentious. Truthful and sincere. He was generally a good man.
“He saw the good qualities of his political opponent, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he gifted him the highest honor in the land, the GCFR award, ” he said.
Tinubu commiserated with his family, associates, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, the government and people of Sokoto State.
”Although we never wish our elders leave us, it is nonetheless pleasing that President Shagari left us at an advanced age.
”My condolences to his family and associates. Our prayer is that Almighty Allah grant him Aljannah Fridaus.
”May He also grant the family the strength to live without him and to carry on with President Shagari’s legacies of commitment to national unity and excellence in service.
“I commiserate with Governor Aminu Tambuwal, the government and people of Sokoto State. I commiserate with the Muslim Ulamma in Nigeria and the world.
Shagari led the country under the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), between 1979 and 1983. He won second election before being dethroned by a coup d’etat that brought in Muhammadu Buhari as military head of state.
The former leader was born Feb. 25, 1925 in Shagari town in Sokoto State.
After his early education, he worked as a teacher for a brief period before entering politics in 1951.
In 1954, he was elected to the House of Representatives.
He served seven times in a ministerial or cabinet post as a federal minister and federal commissioner from 1958–1975, before he was elected president in 1979.
The remains of the former president, who died at the age of 93 on Friday at the National Hospital Abuja, would be transported to Sokoto for burial on Saturday according to Islamic rites.