Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said on Friday that Former President Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari who died in Abuja was the specimen of a patriotic Nigerian whose life was a pattern of good works.
Atiku, in a statement he personally signed said that Shagari was a completely detribalised Nigerian, whom he said, served Nigeria from his youth to the evening of his life.
He said that the late leader first served as a teacher and moulder of minds and later as a leader and moulder of the nation.
The statement read: “His election as the first executive President of Nigeria on October 1, 1979, brought relief to the nation and began the process of ending tribal politics, especially as he brought the Southeast into the political mainstream by naming Dr Alex Ekwueme as his running mate.
“After his unplanned and untimely departure from office, he continued to devote his time and effort to nation building through the elder statesmanly role he played, including during my time in office as Vice President.
ALSO READ: Life and Times of Shehu Shagari, Second Republic President of Nigeria [1925 – 2018]
“We shared a lot in common. Like me, he held the official title of Turaki, a position of great trust. And like myself, he believed in empowering the masses, which he did through his Green Revolution.
“President Shagari was meek and gentle, yet had a firm resolve and these traits led to the golden age of Nigeria’s diplomacy under his leadership.
“He was led by the power of love, rather than the love of power, as evident from the fact that he never craved political office. Power came to him because of his character. Those who knew him reported that he had only one motive for being in office – service. He will be greatly missed.
“May his soul rest in peace and may Almighty Allah grant him al-Jannah Firdaus.”
Absolutely
UK president atikulooted
Yes he was
Alhaji shehu SHAGARI was a great leader who worked with criminals.
His reign as president of Nigeria was one of the greatest time for Nigeria in terms of infrastructure development..
He constructed Ajaokuta steel company, Delta steel aladja, oshogbo steel rolling mill, the evergreen shagari housing estate that became so cheap for civil servants during his regime.
In 1979, there was Iran revolution that made crude oil price to shut up to $40 per barrel. Nigeria made so much from crude oil sale in 1980 that we didn’t save, while countries like Botswana had sovereign wealth fund that made them to navigate oil price fall, Nigeria did have, we were just spending oil revenue like tomorrow Will never come.
Alhaji shehu SHAGARI in 1979 had criminals in his cabinet who destroyed his good work via corruption and couldn’t advise or save for the rainy days.
Lagos was a beehive of activities with parties organised almost everyday. You could not differentiate between working days and weekends in Lagos as can beers, chicken, can milk and other groceries littered the Atlantic Ocean which any body coming to Lagos will identify Nigeria with because of profligacy and spend drift.
As soon as oil price dropped, economic crisis began with the attendant effect, people that enjoyed by eating Uncle Ben’s rice, chicken, tomato puree, can beer, and other exotic products were now eating roughages when economic crisis started.
Nigeria had to resort to borrowing from IMF to pay salaries and kept the government afloat.
In 1981, Alhaji shehu SHAGARI sacked some of his cabinet ministers and brought in the likes of chief Philip asiodu, Professor pat utomi, Alison ayida that helped to stabilised the government but were unable to get the country out of economic doldrums.
The military struck in 1984, got General Muhammadu BUHARI who was the GOC of jos when they were looking for a man of integrity to reposition the country and collect from politicians what was stolen under Alhaji shehu SHAGARI presidency.
The Supreme military council headed by head of state, General Muhammadu BUHARI approved the arrest of all the cabinet ministers including the vice president late Alex ekwueme and were all locked up in kirikiri maximum prison until they proved their innocence.
Some of them who proved their innocence like vice president Alex ekwueme, some state governors and some ministers like late Alhaji Adamu Ciroma
were set free because they didn’t steal.
Alhaji shehu SHAGARI was an epitome of humility, peace, a detribalised Nigerian, a pacesetter, a selfless leader and a builder of public infrastructure.
May Allah grant him aljana fidaus.
Atiku tends to pick campaign from every issue. I remember Metele attack, you also did same. That is a total bummer
Atiku, I am hungry, feed me
Na so una dey talk, we know what we suffered under his govt.