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Tag: shehu shagari

  • 7 things you might not know about Peter Enahoro

    7 things you might not know about Peter Enahoro

    The death of veteran journalist, Peter Enahoro was made public on Tuesday with the media icon reported to have died in London, the United Kingdom.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Enahoro, known by his pen name, Peter Pan, died on Monday aged 88.

    The development was announced in a terse statement by Nigeria’s foremost female journalist, Ms. Bunmi Sofola.

    The statement reads in part, “Regret to announce the passing on of our iconic journalist Peter Enahoro “Peter Pan” today in London at the age of 88. RIP.

    “Also known by the pen name of “Peter Pan” because of his popular column in New African magazine under that name. He has been described as ‘perhaps Africa’s best-known international journalist’”.

    Here are 7 things you might not know about the late veteran journalist

    1. Peter Enahoro is a sibling to the late Tony Enahoro, who moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence in the House of Parliament.
    2. Enahoro is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated columnists. He was a journalist, author, businessman and publisher. He was the publisher of Africa Now.
    3. He became Editor of the Daily Times Nigeria at a very young age. In fact, he was the youngest to have edited Dailly Times.
    4. Peter Enahoro was born on January 21, 1935.
    5. Enahoro attended the prestigious Government College, Ughelli (in present-day Delta State), and was a contemporary of the famous poet and Africa’s first professor of English, J. P. Clark.
    6. He went on exile in 1966 when the counter-coup happened and did not return until the second republic when Shehu Shagari became president.
    7. Peter Enahoro is the author of the novel, How to be a Nigerian.
  • Pastor Adeboye shelves Sokoto Light Up crusade

    Pastor Adeboye shelves Sokoto Light Up crusade

    The General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has suspended the Light Up crusade scheduled to hold physically in Sokoto from May 16 to 17, 2022.

     

    According to Pastor Adeboye, the postponement followed the killing of a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, for alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.

     

    The state has seen unrest over the arrest of two persons allegedly involved in the killing, forcing the governor Aminu Tambuwal to declare a curfew.

     

    Pastor Adeboye, in a social media post on Monday, urged members of the church to join the crusade virtually.

     

    “Postponed but God turned it around. We Trust In Our God’s Big Picture Plan! When God turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them in that dream.

     

    “We serve a God who specializes in using the impossible situation for His glory,” Pastor Adeboye wrote.

     

    In the wake of the killing, the Christian Association of Nigeria called for a nationwide protest slated for May 22 to demand justice for the slain Sokoto student.

     

    Deborahl was laid to rest on Saturday in her hometown in Tunga Magajiya, Rijau LGA of Niger state.

    Deborah

     

    Her remains were buried around 6:30 pm at the Christian cemetery in Tunga Magajiya.

     

    Emmanuel Maaji, the uncle of the deceased who is a pastor at ECWA church, led the prayers before she was buried.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that a mob killed Deborah over alleged blasphemy on Thursday.

     

    Videos of the late student being stoned and beaten with sticks were shared on social media.

     

    Her killing had sparked outrage across the country, with Nigerians asking the government to fish out the perpetrators of the crime.

     

    There was also a flurry of condemnation from civil society organisations (CSOs), Muslim leaders and groups, most notably Muhammadu Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto.

     

    The police command in Sokoto had also announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the killing.

     

    On Saturday morning, some Muslim youths in Sokoto took to the streets to protest the arrest of the suspects.

     

    The protesters were armed with placards that read: “Release our Muslim brothers”, “Muslims Are Not Terrorists”, and “Peaceful riot”.

  • BLASPHEMY: Deborah’s parent speak, lament cost of her death

    BLASPHEMY: Deborah’s parent speak, lament cost of her death

    Garba Emmanuel, the father of Deborah, the 200-level student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, who was burnt to death for alleged blasphemy, has narrated what her death would cost the family.

    Deborah’s father said he put everything into her schooling and could not afford to finance the education of her six siblings.

    He told reporters: “Everything we have, we put it into the education of Deborah and today, she is dead.

    “Because of Deborah’s schooling, we couldn’t send her siblings to school because we can’t afford it. If you have nothing, you can’t sponsor all your children to such schools.”

    The late Deborah, who was killed for alleged blasphemy, was the second of seven children.

    Emmanuel said they would leave everything in God’s hands.

    “As believers, we have taken this as an act of God. We will not seek for vengeance or any action. A believer resigns his fate to God,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Emmanuel, who is based in Niger State, was able to retrieve his daughter’s remains for a funeral.

    He said: “I went to the police in Sokoto and I pleaded with them that since the corpse had been burnt, they should help me with it so that it does not completely decompose, so I could bury it.

    “I also pleaded with the Department of State Services (DSS) and they reasoned with me and agreed. I signed some documents and they gave her remains to me.

    “I paid for the transportation from Sokoto to Rijau. I paid N120,000. It was hard getting anyone who will help us take the corpse down here.

    “Most of the Hausa men were reluctant to help us but you know that no matter the circumstances, someone always needs money. That was how we got someone to bring her body down to Niger.”

    He said the government was yet to contact the family.

    Still living in shock over the killing of her daughter for alleged blasphemy, Deborah’s mother, Alheri, said “Deborah was a respectful and diligent young lady who hated injustices.”

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that Alheri was hospitalized following the incident,

     

  • Female student burnt alive over alleged comment against Prophet Muhammad (VIDEO)

    Female student burnt alive over alleged comment against Prophet Muhammad (VIDEO)

    A mob in Sokoto on Thursday burnt alive a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education over alleged blasphemy.

     

    Identified simply as Deborah, the student was reported to have described a message about Prophet Muhammad on a WhatsApp group as “nonsense”.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that the incident triggered tension in the school environment.

     

    The group, it was learnt, was created for academic purposes.

     

    According to a source that pleaded anonymity, the matter got out of hand after Deborah refused to apologize for her alleged comment on the post.

     

    “She was asked to apologise but refused and this heightened tension in the school. The college security personnel had to intervened by whisking her to their office but they were overwhelmed by students, who later set her ablaze,” the source said.

     

    A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media.

    Watch video below:

     

     

     

     

  • Buhari more popular, respected, accepted than Awolowo, Azikwe, Shagari, other great nationalists – Adesina

    Buhari more popular, respected, accepted than Awolowo, Azikwe, Shagari, other great nationalists – Adesina

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says President Muhammadu Buhari has attained greater acceptance among Nigerians even more than some fathers of the federation.

    Adesina made this assertion on Thursday in an article titled “The Essential Buhari: Vp Osinbajo Got It!”.

    In establishing his argument, the presidential spokesman alluded to a comment made by Professor Yemi Osinbajo in London last weekend.

    Speaking with top officials of the Nigerian High Commission, Vice President Osinbajo said “the President is possibly the most popular Nigerian politician that we ever had in generations”.

    Osinabjo added that “he (Buhari) is possibly the only person, who can go into a place or somewhere without bossing people to gather and they will come and listen to him speak”.

    Building upon this premise, Adesina said he totally agrees with the VP’s assessment of the president.

    “I am old enough to have seen our colourful and even swashbuckling politicians in action. I have seen the great Obafemi Awolowo. The charismatic Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa). Shehu Shagari. Amino Kano. M.K.O Abiola. Bashir Tofa, and many others in action. But I have not seen anyone with the kind of attraction, magnetic pull, that Muhammadu Buhari has. And that is round the country, north and south. People swarm around him as bees do to honey.

    “I have been around the country with the President. I have also been to several countries of the world with him. I have not seen any other Nigerian leader, past or present, with his kind of allure, pull, fascination, magnetism. And that is why VP Osinbajo is right to have described him as possibly ‘the most popular Nigerian politician that we ever had in this generation,” Adesina submitted.

    The special media aide stressed that he has personally experienced the love, loyalty, and dedication Buhari enjoys from Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, or age, adding that it is above the acceptance that has been accorded other politicians both past and present.

    Below is the full article as published on Adesina’s official Facebook page.

    “THE ESSENTIAL BUHARI: VP OSINBAJO GOT IT!

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is an honest man. Whatever he tells you, please take it seriously. You can even take it to the bank, as it’s a cheque that will never bounce.

    Last weekend in London, while speaking with top officials of the Nigerian High Commission, VP Osinbajo said of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Mai Gaskiya (Honest Man): “The President is possibly the most popular Nigerian politician that we ever had in generations. He is possibly the only person, who can go into a place or somewhere without bossing people to gather and they will come and listen to him speak.

    “We need that level of credibility to be able to solve problems in our country. And I think because of his level of credibility, despite everything, he is still the only one that can call everyone, and even people who do not necessarily agree with him know that he is a man of his words.”

    There may be a tendency to say; what else do you expect a number 2 man to say of his principal? He won’t excoriate or flagellate him in public, and because he may possibly need his support for the number one position at a time in the future, so he would say sugary things.

    For a typical politician, ambitious, cold, calculating, scheming, yes. But those of us who work with the duo know that Professor Yemi Osinbajo is not in that mould.

    He is honest, factual, totally dependent on God for whatever the future holds. Nothing is a matter of life and death, and so he could have chosen to keep quiet about the attributes of the President, so that he wouldn’t be misconstrued.

    When he said Buhari was possibly Nigeria’s most popular politician that we have had in generations, I believe it, not just by the hearing of the ear, but because my eyes have seen it.

    I am old enough to have seen our colorful and even swashbuckling politicians in action. I have seen the great Obafemi Awolowo.

    The charismatic Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa). Shehu Shagari. Amino Kano. M.K.O Abiola. Bashir Tofa, and many others in action. But I have not seen anyone with the kind of attraction, magnetic pull, that Muhammadu Buhari has. And that is round the country, north and south. People swarm around him as bees do to honey.

    I have been around the country with the President. I have also been to several countries of the world with him. I have not seen any other Nigerian leader, past or present, with his kind of allure, pull, fascination, magnetism. And that is why VP Osinbajo is right to have described him as possibly “the most popular Nigerian politician that we ever had in this generation.”

    I remember that day in August 2017, when the President returned to the country finally from his medical vacation. From January of that year, he had been in and out a couple of times, but spending weeks and months outside, attending to his health. And finally, on August 19, he returned home, triumphantly.

    We were at the airport to receive him. I have told the story a number of times, to dispel the idiocy that it was a certain Jibril of Sudan that came back, and not Buhari. The daughter of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Gabriel Olonisakin, was getting married. And I had attended both the church service and reception, decked in full Yoruba traditional attire of Agbada and a cap to match. Straight from the ceremony, I went to the airport to join the welcome party for the President.

    We the principal aides were on a line to receive the President as he descended from the aircraft. And he shook hands with each person, having one wisecrack or the other to say, as is typical of him. When he got to me, he said, “Adesina, this is the best I’ve seen you dressed.” And we both laughed.

    Jibril of Sudan? How did he know I was Adesina? How would he know how I normally dressed? Idiocy, I say again. But that is just a digression, not the story I really want to tell to support the topic at hand.

    We entered the vehicles lined up, and the convoy moved. It was perhaps the longest journey I’d ever witnessed from the airport to the town. Where did they come from? Like locusts, they swarmed onto the road, at many times forcing the convoy into a crawl. I didn’t know that such huge population resided in the communities along the airport road.

    Not induced or procured in any way, the people trooped out in their thousands to welcome the President back home.

    A multitude of ordinary Nigerians, the ones bearing the brunt of whatever was happening in the country then.. they came onto the roads, waving, cheering, heralding the man they loved back into the country. Many times, the convoy was forced to a dead slow, until the President had to wave at them, and they cheered uproariously.

    It took double or triple the normal time before we could get to the Presidential Villa.

    When about a year later, those who thought they owned the country told the President pontifically to dismount from the horse, and not run for a second term in office, I thought they were overreaching themselves. And so it was. The President ran in 2019, and he won, even with a wider margin than he did in 2015, when he had knocked a ruling party off its perch.

    So, when Professor Osinbajo says we possibly have the most colorful, popular politician with us, it is by no means patronizing. Even now, with all the challenges in the country, let President Buhari make a public appearance anywhere, he is still happily received, against the conjecture of naysayers and evil hearts, who conjure unrealistic things.

    Now, having such a leader in our country, one who wants nothing for himself, and is only actuated by touching the lives of the people positively, how should we utilize him? Give maximum support, and help him to realize his vision, not virulent opposition as we see from certain untutored quarters. It is in our collective interest to support such a man for the glory and benefit of our country.

    VP Osinbajo said only Buhari has the credibility to be able to solve some problems in our country now. Yes, he’s the one the populace chose, voted into power, despite all odds. Hear the VP: “And I think because of his level of credibility, despite everything, he is still the only one that can call everyone, and even people who do not necessarily agree with him know that he is a man of his words.”

    Very true. This is our President, a man out to serve, and not to be served. The virulent opposition we see in the land can only be self-serving, an odious attempt to grab power for power’s sake. I’ll rather follow an honest man, for the sake of our country.

    One more thing. The VP also told his London audience that we are better off as one people, one country. “Yorubas are not better off on their own. Igbos are not better off on their own. The North is not better off on its own. We are better off as one nation, that is why we are strong, and that is why we can face the world.”

    One hopes those beating the drums of discord, evil speech and dismemberment are listening. Nigeria is stronger, better off as one united entity. Issues we have can always be resolved, without breaking into splinters. That is the only way the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.”

     

  • Hajia Hadiza: Edwin Clark condoles Late President Shehu Shagari’s family

    Hajia Hadiza: Edwin Clark condoles Late President Shehu Shagari’s family

    Elder Statesman, and Leader of the Pan Niger-Delta Forum, PANDEF, Chief E. K. Clark, has reacted sadly to the announcement of the death, last night, of Hajia Hadiza, wife of of the late Nigerian Leader, President Shehu Aliyu Shagari.

    Chief Clark, in the United Kingdom, expresses the death as a great shock, describing it as, “very sad!”

    He recalls the late First Lady, as a quiet and humble wife, but exuberant and energetic in her support for her husband, at every stage of his steady ascendancy to the summit of the National political ladder.

    The Father of the Ijaw Nation, South-South and Southern and Middle Belt coalition, recalls his close association with Alhaji Shehu Shagari, dating back to their membership of the Cabinet of General Yakubu Gowon, and, later, as a frontline Member of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, Countrywide Presidential Campaign Team of the 1979 Election.

    He, therefore, considers her demise as a personal loss to him, also, as a close friend of the Shagari family, whose son, recently active in politics, has been his son also, wishing the family, and, indeed, the entire Country, the strength to bear the loss.

  • Forgive me for bringing down your government, supporting Buhari in 2015, Shehu Shagari’s son begs Jonathan

    Forgive me for bringing down your government, supporting Buhari in 2015, Shehu Shagari’s son begs Jonathan

    …Jonathan reacts

    Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has accepted the apology of Aminu Shagari, son of former President, Shehu Shagari, for working against him in 2015.

    Aminu Shagari, a member of the House of Representatives, had apologised to Jonathan for supporting President Muhammadu Buhari to win the 2015 Presidential election.

    Aminu said he apologised to Jonathan following what he described as Buhari’s inability to effectively tackle some of Nigeria’s challenges.

    “Let me use this opportunity to tender a public apology to former President Jonathan and seek forgiveness because I helped to divide the Peoples Democratic Party and bring down his government, but, I have found out that what we thought about his stewardship was not entirely true.

    “I expect President Buhari to also ask for forgiveness having found out that most of the things he accused my dad’s and President Jonathan’s administrations of are not true,” he said.

    Reacting to Aminu’s apology on Monday on his verified Facebook page, Jonathan thanked him for the apology, saying he never took offence.

    He said his firm belief was that he was a pencil in the hand of God, saying he therefore had no enemies to fight because of his confidence that people could only do to him what God permitted.

    Jonathan urged him to continue to emulate the humility of his father, a most detribalised Nigerian.

    In his words: “Dear Honourable Aminu Shagari, Thank you for your apology. However, I never took offence. My firm belief is that I am a pencil in the Hand of God.

    “Therefore, I have no enemies to fight, because of my confidence that people can only do to me what God permits. I urge you to continue to emulate the humility of your father, the late President Shehu Shagari, a most detribalised Nigerian. May God bless you.”

  • Reps Eulogize Ex-President Shehu Shagari

    Reps Eulogize Ex-President Shehu Shagari

    …Want him immortalized

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    The House of Representatives yesterday urged the Federal Government to immortalize former President of Nigeria Alhaji Shehu Shagari saying that he was a patriotic Nigerian who served the nation at the highest level without blemish.

    The House also eulogized the former president for his integrity and public service credentials saying that incoming generation of Nigerian leaders should emulate him for his selfless service to the nation.

    In a motion sponsored by the House Leader Hon. Femi Gbajabiamilla and thirty-five other lawmakers, the House urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to immortalize the former president.

    Gbajabiamilla while debating the motion noted that the nation woke up to hear the news of the demise of former president Alh Shehu Shagari on Friday December 28th 2018 at the age of 93.

    He further noted that he was buried on Saturday December 29th 2018 according to Islamic rites.

    According to him, he was survived by two wives, children, grand children and great grand children prominent among which is Hon. Aminu Shagari representing Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency of Sokoto State in the House of Representatives.

    He informed that House that late Alh Shehu Shagari was born on 25th February 1925 at Shagari village Sokoto State. He added that he was the sixth child of his father Aliyu Shagari who was a farmer, trader and herder.

    He further hinted that he graduated from Teachers Training College in Zaria, Kaduna State and began a teaching career , a profession he loved so much at Sokoto province between 1953-1958.

    He also said that he started his political career as Secretary of Northern Peoples Congress in Sokoto between 1951 -1956 and was elected as member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Sokoto West in 1954 and in 1958.

    He added that he was the Presidential candidate of National Party of Nigeria NPN and in 1978 was elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He also said that he was re-elected in 1981 for a second term of four years but was overthrown in a military coup on December 31,1983.

    The lawmaker said said that Alhaji Shagari was a father to all Nigerians and will be greatly missed but still be remembered as a patriotic Nigerian, bridge builder and astute politician.

    Other lawmakers also spoke in like manner eulogizing the ex-president for his outstanding leadership and forthrightness during his day in office..

    Consequently, the House presided by the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara adopted the motion with a voice vote asking the Federal Government to do something to immortalize his name.

    The Speaker equally condoled the government and people of Sokoto State, the Shagari family and government and people of Nigeria over the loss of the former President.

     

  • Shagari’s son recalls Jonathan’s solidarity, as ex-President, Obi visit family

    Shagari’s son recalls Jonathan’s solidarity, as ex-President, Obi visit family

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has condoled with the family of late former President Shehu Shagari, describing him as an amiable leader that meant well for Nigeria and the world at large.

    Shagari died on Dec. 28, at the National Hospital Abuja and was buried on Saturday in his home town, Shagari in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

    Jonathan was accompanied on the visit by Mr Peter Obi, running mate of the 2019 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, as well as other PDP leaders in the state.

    He said the late former president played a key role in the development of Nigeria and the democratic system.

    “A unique habit of the late former President, which only those who interacted with him will tell is, he was a very simple and humble man in spite of the various positions he held.

    “He possessed a very clean and good heart which he showed clearly in his life time thorough various engagements and activities.

    “We are mourning today however, we are still happy because it is not easy to reach the age of 93.

    “I believe he has done all the works Allah has asked him to do on earth,’’ Jonathan said.

    The former President encouraged family members of the deceased to be happy because their father impacted on all Nigerians.

    Also, Peter Obi who represented the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, urged Nigerians to emulate the lifestyle of the late former President for the betterment of the country.

    Responding, the eldest son of the deceased, Alhaji Bala Shagari thanked former President Jonathan for the visit.

    Shagari recalled the concern and solidarity shown by former president Jonathan when their father was ill.

    Similarly, the Governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) in Zamfara state, Sen. Sa’idu Dansadau, also described the death of the former President as a great loss to the country, Africa and the whole world at large.

    Visitors who thronged the residence of the former President included a former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida among others.

     

  • FG to immortalize Shagari

    FG to immortalize Shagari

    The Federal Government says it will in due course institute a suitable memorial to immortalize the country’s first Executive President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who passed away on Dec. 28.

    President Muhammadu Buhari made the pledge during his condolence visit to the Shagari family in Sokoto, Sokoto State, on Sunday.

    In a letter to the Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, read by the governor at the event, the President stated:

    “I received the very sad news of the passing away of Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “This, indeed, is a grievous loss, which will be felt throughout Nigeria, irrespective of any difference.

    “The late Alhaji Shagari was a landmark figure being virtually our last link to the post-independence government of Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa , and the first elected Executive President of Nigeria.

    “Please convey to his immediate family, the government and the people of Sokoto State my heartfelt condolences on the passing away of this great statesman.

    “The Federal Government will in due course institute a suitable memorial to the late former President.

    “May his soul rest in peace.”

    President Buhari had earlier on Sunday joined sympathisers and family members to offer special prayers for the repose of the soul of late former President Shehu Shagari at his private residence in Sokoto State.

    The remains of the former president, who died at the age of 93 on Friday at the National Hospital Abuja, was laid to rest at his village, Shagari on Saturday, according to Islamic rites.