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Tag: shehu shagari

  • Shehu Shagari’s son speaks on father’s relationship with Buhari

    Alhaji Bala Shagari, the eldest son of late President Shehu Shagari has expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari over condolence visit to the family in Sokoto.

    The eldest son told newsmen on Sunday in Sokoto, Sokoto state, that the family was happy with the visit and Buhari’s pledge to immortalize the late president.

    Bala, who is the District Head of Shagari town in Sokoto, however, said he would not comment on Buhari’s pledge until it was fulfilled.

    Late Shagari, aged 93, died on Dec. 28 at the National Hospital, Abuja and was buried on Saturday at Shagari, his hometown.

    Shagari was President of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983. He was dethroned by a coup d’etat that brought in Muhammadu Buhari to power as military head of state, three months after he (Shagari) was sworn in for second term.

    He said that the late president did not leave any will beside the directive that he should be buried at his home, Shagari.

    According to Bala, the directive was strictly observed and implemented as his remains were buried at Shagari town, on Saturday.

    He acknowledged that the Sultan had offered that the late president should be buried at Hubbare, where Shehu Usman Danfofio was laid to rest.

    “We acknowledged it but late Shagari had told us that he should be buried in Shagari town and even indicated a specific location, so we have to comply with his will,” he added.

    According to him, his father had no grudge against Buhari or anyone because Shagari told us he had pardoned everyone.

    He explained that the late president’s absence at functions was due to his ill-health, saying that was why he stayed in Sokoto and Shagari town before he died.

    Earlier, President Buhari condoled with the wives and children of late Shagari at the deceased residence on Sama road in Sokoto.

    During the visit, Prof. Shehu Galadanci led the prayers for late Shagari.

    He also prayed to God to change the mindset of those spreading hate and disunity among citizens as well as those individuals or organisations working against the laudable and pro-human policies and programmes of the Buhari administration.

    Buhari was accompanied by Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko and Sokoto State Deputy Governor Alhaji Mannir Dan-Iya, among others.

    The visit was cheered by crowds chanting; “Nigeria Said Maigaskiya” meaning Nigeria is for a truthful person.

    The Federal Government’s delegation led by Secretary to the Federation, Mr Boss Mustspha, had earlier attended the late president’s funeral on Saturday in Shagari town.

    The deceased held the traditional title of Turakin Sokoto, was born on Feb. 25, 1925 in Shagari, in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

    After his early education, he worked as a teacher briefly before he became politician in 1951.

    In 1954, he was elected to the Federal House of Representatives.

    He served seven times as a federal minister and federal commissioner from 1958–1975, before he was elected president in 1979.

     

  • Buhari, governors, others offer special prayers for late Shagari

    Buhari, governors, others offer special prayers for late Shagari

    President Muhammadu Buhari 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.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal and his counterpart from Kebbi, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu as well as prominent citizens from within and outside Sokoto, who accompanied the president, participated in the prayer session.

    Before commencement of prayers which was led by the Chief Imam/Administrator of the National Mosque, Prof. Shehu Galadanchi, Buhari met with members of the Shagari family where he consoled them over the loss.

    The president also presented a letter of Condolence to the family which was read by Tambuwal, who also shared the same car with the president during the condolence visit.

    The Chief Imam prayed almighty Allah to grant the soul of the former Nigerian president a peaceful resting place in Paradise.

    The president had on Saturday paid tribute to the late former president, and directed that the national flag and other flags should fly at half-mast in military and para-military formations as well as public buildings for three days, starting from today.

    “The late President represented almost the last link with the government of our founding fathers under Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. He was also the first elected President of Nigeria.

    “The late Alhaji Shagari was a man of many parts, teacher, local authority administrator, politician, minister, and finally President. He served his country with dedication and moderation.

    “Over the years through interaction at the Council of State, he and I came to understand and appreciate each other whatever the differences we may have had in the past.

    “On behalf of the Federal Government, myself and family, I send my condolences to the people of Nigeria, particularly to the late President’s family and the government and people of Sokoto State. May his soul rest in peace.”

    Alhaji Bala Shagari, the eldest son of the deceased had on behalf of the family, expressed appreciation to Buhari for the visit amid his busy schedule.

    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.

    Shagari was president from 1979 to 1983 and won the presidential election for the second time before he was dethroned by a coup d’état that brought in Muhammadu Buhari as military head of state.

     

  • Shagari: President Buhari arrives Sokoto to condole family, state govt

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday arrived Sokoto State to condole with the family, people and government over the death of former President Shehu Shagari.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the president was received at the airport by the state Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, his deputy Manir Dan-Iya, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, and Sen. Aliyu Wammako.

    Also on ground to receive the president were traditional and religious leaders as well as his admirers and supporters.

    NAN reports that Buhari, who had earlier paid tribute to the late president, went to the family compound of the deceased in Sokoto metropolis to offer his condolences

    The president had on Saturday directed that the national flag and other flags should fly at half-mast in military and para-military formations as well as public buildings for three days, starting from today.

    The president gave the directive in a statement personally signed by him and issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

    “The late President represented almost the last link with the government of our founding fathers under Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. He was also the first elected President of Nigeria.

    “The late Alhaji Shagari was a man of many parts, teacher, local authority administrator, politician, minister, and finally President. He served his country with dedication and moderation.

    “Over the years through interaction at the Council of State, he and I came to understand and appreciate each other whatever the differences we may have had in the past.

    “On behalf of the Federal Government, myself and family, I send my condolences to the people of Nigeria, particularly to the late President’s family and the government and people of Sokoto State. May his soul rest in peace.”

    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.

    Shagari was president from 1979 to 1983 and won second election before being dethroned by a coup d’etat that brought in Muhammadu Buhari as military head of state.

     

  • Life and times of ex-President, Shehu Shagari

    Life and times of ex-President, Shehu Shagari

    Former President Shehu Shagari, on Friday, died after a brief illness at the age of 93 at the National Hospital, Abuja.

    Here is a report on the life and times of the former President.

    LIFE AND TIMES

    Born in 1925 in the northern Shagari village founded by his great-grandfather, Ahmadu Rufa’i, who was also the Village Head, he 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. 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.

    Shagari joined politics in 1951, when he became the secretary of the Northern People’s Congress in Sokoto, 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 Representatives for Sokoto west. In 1958, Shagari was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a position he left in 1959, to serve as the Federal Minister for commerce and Industries. From 1959 to 1960, Shagari was redeployed to the Ministry of Economic Development, as the Federal Commissioner for Economic Development.

    In 1960, he was moved to the Pensions Ministry as the Federal Minister for Pensions. From 1962 to 1965, Shagari was made the Federal Commissioner 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 then Military Head of State General Yakubu Gowon as the federal commissioner for economic development, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

    From 1971 to 19 75 he served as the Federal commissioner for 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 Party of Nigeria (NPN).

    In 1979 Shagari was chosen by the party as its presidential candidate for general election, which he won becoming the president. Shagari ran for a second four-year term in 1983 and won the general election, however, on December 31, 1983, Shagari was overthrown by President Muhammadu Buhari, who was then a major general in the army.

    He served as the first and only Presidentof Nigeria’s Second Republic (1979–1983), after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military government. Shagari was made the Turaki of the Fula Sokoto 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 chieftaincytitles 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.

    Policies Oil boom

    During the oil boom, Shagari made Housing, Industries, Transportation and Agriculture as the major goals of his administration. In transportation, he launched some road networks across the country. He also initiated a program to foster the use of mechanical machinery in farming. It favored large scale farmers in order to produce mass products. Shagari created a low cost housing scheme. In 1980, with the oil revenue, Shagari finished building the Kaduna refinery, which started operation that year. Also with the oil revenue, Shagari concluded the construction of an additional steel plant and three rolling mills at Ajaokuta, Nigeria. Shagari completed the Delta Steel complex in 1982. In 1983, Shagari created the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria at Ikot Abasi, Nigeria. However, Shagari reduced the share of oil royalties and rents to state of origin from 30 to 2 percent.

    Green Revolution

    Shagari’s government embarked on a “Green Revolution”, distributing seed and fertilliser to farmers to increase nationwide productivity in farming. The Shagari administration was plagued by allegations of corruption, including allegations of electoral fraud in the 1983 election. This, coupled with a decline in world oil prices, and a deterioration in the national finances, hardship, lead to the regime becoming deeply unpopular with citizens. Shagari was overthrown by General Muhammadu Buhari in a military coup on December 31, 1983.

    Personal life

    Shehu Shagari married three wives: Amina, Aishatu, Hadiza Shagari. He has many children. However, His most visible children are Captain Muhammad Bala Shagari Rtd. and Aminu Shehu Shagari. On August 24, 2001, his wife, Aisha Shagari, died in a London hospital from a brief illness. The Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) title holder, in his autobiography, ‘Beckoned To Serve’, Shagari shared his experience from early childhood through his period as president in 1979-1983, and beyond. As the son of a village chief, who became a school teacher, political activist and committed democrat and nationalist, his story is told within the context of the transition from colonial rule to independence and the struggle to build a stable country with democratic institutions and values.