Na’Allah Muhammad Zagga
Former President Shehu Shagari died at the National Hospital Abuja on December 28th, 2018. The soft-spoken former Nigerian President was one of the most vilified, yet widely misunderstood leaders. Just like Tafawa Balewa, he was portrayed as corrupt, but those who overthrew him were shocked by his uprightness when they came face to face with reality.
Corruption has always been the pretext for removing civilians from power by our politically ambitious soldiers. Shagari’s integrity was so impeachable that the soldiers who removed him from office couldn’t build any corruption case against him. So, was his deputy Alex Ekwueme cleared of corruption.
Shagari, Awolowo, Aminu Kano, Sardauna, Zik and other politicians of their generation were in politics purely motivated by the passion to serve. Unlike today’s politicians, they didn’t perceive politics as a gravy train. Did you know that Shehu Shagari recommended N25,000 annual salary for himself? But the National Assembly increased it to N30,000. Today, according to Shehu Sani’s public admission, each Senator collects N13.5 million monthly as so-called running cost allowance in addition to other hidden financial benefits to the lawmakers.
Kaduna Electricity Disconnects Late President Shagari’s House Over Debt
Shagari was a victim of media prejudice. A senior editor once confessed that he was embarrassed by Shagari’s modest lifestyle. He said when he encountered Shagari at his native town, he couldn’t believe that this man was a former President of an oil rich Nigeria. He said he was shocked by the fact there was no aura of opulence in Shagari’s residence. To cap it, the late Head of State General Sani Abacha had to build a house for Shagari in Sokoto. Shehu had no posh houses in London or fat bank accounts in European countries. That is the extent of Shagari’s honesty.
To Shagari’s credit, even his worst enemy cannot deny the fact that the late President was committed to national unity. He didn’t believe in winner-takes-all politics. Shagari forged a government of national unity by appointing members of the opposition into his cabinet. He was sensitive to our national diversity. His official pardon for Ojokwu, the Biafran rebel leader, who was then living in exile in Ivory Coast, was a courageous decision, though it was controversial.
The Northern military establishment was bitter about that decision and they didn’t forgive Shagari for that. Other critics alleged the pardon was motivated for political advantage by the NPN government. Whatever maybe the perceived motives, the decision to pardon Ojokwu and allow him to return home Nigeria from exile was bold. General Buhari too courted Ojukwu for the same political advantage. So, the allegations of political motives are beside the point. Tell me decisions that not political in Nigeria. Even the establishment of federal universities across the country are motivated by political reasons(their economic viability is a matter for another occasion).
Still on national unity, Shehu Shagari was one of the prominent public figures that persuaded the National Assembly to enact the doctrine of necessity to enable Goodluck Jonathan to serve as Acting President in 2010 during the prolonged hospitalisation of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua in Saudi Arabia. Nigeria was facing imminent constitutional crisis because Yar’adua didn’t officially transmit a letter to the Senate President and Speaker, transferring his powers to the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan while he attended to his health. As the cabal was playing games and the polity was heating up, Shagari joined other former leaders such as Gowon, Babangida, Obasanjo, Shonekan and others to move Nigeria forward, a patriotic effort that resulted in the declaration of the doctrine of neccessity that formally conferred presidential authority on Jonathan.
Rest in peace Shehu Shagari. May Allah continue to bless his gentle soul and reward his good deeds with aljanna. Amin.
Na’Allah Muhammad Zagga is a public affairs commentator and a Journalist
