The leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has reacted to the death of former President Shehu Shagari on Friday, describing the incident as a colossal national loss. NANS stated this in a statement issued on Friday by its National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Bestman Okereafor.
The statement described the late national leader as a patriotic elder statesman, who built bridges of unity across the country.
“The attention of the National leadership of the apex students governing body, NANS, has been drawn to the demise of Nigeria’s first elected president, who served between 1979-1983, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
“NANS is joining the Federal Government, all Nigerians both home and in Diaspora and the Shagari family in bidding the former president farewell. No doubt Shagari was a patriotic elder statesman worthy of emulation considering how he had continuously given responsive representation to the people.
“For example In 1954, he won a seat at the general election to represent Sokoto South-West Constituency, and four years later, he was appointed parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. In 1960, he was appointed Minister of Economic Development, and then Minister of Internal Affairs in 1962
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“In 1965 he was Minister of Works and Survey (1965), until Jan. 15, 1966, when a bloody military coup cut short that regime.
”When the military government of Gen. Yakubu Gowon took over after a counter-coup, Shagari was appointed Commissioner of Economic Affairs and later Commissioner of Finance.’’
Okereafor recalled that at the birth of the Second Republic in 1979, a reluctant Shagari emerged the presidential candidate of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), won the election and was sworn-in on Oct. 1 that year.
“It is worthy of note to state that Shagari assembled the best set of Nigerians into his cabinet, suggesting that he was willing to change track and tactics to move the nation in the right direction,’’ he said.
Okereafor added that Shagari was simply an embodiment of humility and decency. May his gentle soul rest in peace, even as we pray to God to grant him eternal rest,” it added.
