Nigerian’s Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, GCFR, is dead.
His demise was announced on twitter by his grandson, Bello Shagari.
Bello wrote, ”I regret announcing the death of my grandfather, H.E Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who died at about 6.30 last night after brief illness at the National Hospital, Abuja, according to his grandson, Bello Shagari May his soul rest in peace.”
His Sama Road, Sokoto residence was in a sober mood as family members received condolences from sympathisers who trooped to the house yesterday.
Further confirming the death of the elder statesman to The Nation yesterday, Bello, his grandson, said that the Second Republic President died at about 7 pm at the National Hospital where he had been on admission for two days.
Also commenting on the demise of the former civilian president was one of his drivers, Bala Shagari, who said the late Shagari suffered from pneumonia for more than 10 days before he was flown to Abuja for medication when it appeared that his condition was deteriorating.
Bala, who said he had been working for the former president before he was elected as President in 1979, described the deceased elder statesman as pious, honest, detribalise and “a gentleman to the core.”
Another of his son, Ibrahim Shehu Shagari, said the remains of the Second Republic President would be flown to Sokoto from Abuja for burial today.0
“We are waiting for the Sultan who will decide where he should be buried,” he said.
The late former president assumed office on October 1, 1979 after winning that year’s election on the platform of the now defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
