Tributes have continued to pour in honour of late Nigeria’s ex-civilian President Shehu Shagari who died at 93 on Friday.
Shagari who was Nigeria’s President in the first republic from 1979 to 1983 was given national burial in his home town, Shagari on Saturday amidst out pouring as the nation’s flags flew half-mask.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who toppled Shagari in 1983, was at the home of the deceased on Sunday to pay condolence.
Buhari who was accompanied by Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, had earlier ordered that Nigerian flags should be lowered and also planned to immortalised Shagari.
During the visit, the Buhari signed the condolence register and condoled with the government and people of the state and promised that the Federal Government will institute a suitable memorial to immortalise the Former President.
He described the former president as the link between the country’s first-generation leaders and the present leadership.
In honour of Shagari’s contributions to nation building which he described as immeasurable, President Buhari said the Federal Government will immortalise him.
The remains of the former President were laid to rest on Saturday at his private residence in his hometown, Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State following prayers led by a former Vice-Chancellor at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Professor Shehu Galadanchi.
Shagari died on Friday, December 28, at the National Hospital in Abuja after a brief illness.
Also the family of Shagari’s Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, sympathized with the family of the first Executive President of Nigeria.
Ekwueme passed on November 19, 2017.
Late Ekwueme’s son, Mr. Goodheart Obi Ekwueme, extolled the late Shagari as an epitome of high moral leadership.
He was also described Shagari as one who had meritoriously served the country without any blemish.
The Ekwueme family also noted that Shagari had the most cordial working relationship with his Vice President (Ekwueme) at the time and both had greater hearts of service for the nation.
“They were more Nationalistic in their work relation and even though they both had different religious backgrounds, they were not polarized by the issues of religion and tribe.
“They were first and foremost Nigerians before Christians or Muslims, Fulani or Igbo. They were both selfless,” the family said.
The family also stated that Shagari again demonstrated his humility in his message through his son, Aminu Shagari, at Ekwueme’s burial, where he said he chose him as his Vice President because of his impeccable integrity and character.
The Sokoto state government has declared Monday, Dec. 31, as public holiday to enable residents offer special prayer for the repose of the soul of Shagari.
The state government therefore, requests Imams across Sokoto and the general public to dedicate the day for special prayers for the repose of the soul of the former President and for peace and progress of the nation at large.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also extolled the late former president, Shehu Shagari’s role in Nigeria’s pre- and post-independence politics.
82-year-old Obasanjo who served as Nigeria’s military head of state and handed over power to Shagari gave the eulogy in a condolence letter addressed to Goveror Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state.
Obasanjo, also a civilian President from 1999 to 2007, described 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.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commiserated with Shagari’s family and Nigerians over the loss.
In a statement, Mr Adeyemi Amoo, the National Public Relations Officer of NANS described the death of Shagari as a “great loss to the country’’.
“Without mincing words, NANS describes Alhaji Shehu Shagari as an elder statesman with worthy and commendable records in the nation’s history.
“NANS prays that Almighty Allah forgives him his wrong doings and grant him Aljannatu Firdaus.”
Shagar held various positions as a parliamentarian in the Federal House of Representatives representing Sokoto West in 1954; a Parliamentarian Secretary 1958-1959; Federal Minister and Commissioner in different ministries and capacities between 1959 and 1975.
