By Umaru Abdulai,
Minna
The former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has described the first civilian President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, as a true “Democratic and bridge builder” Nigeria would always miss.
Babangida, in a message which he personally signed on the death of Alhaji Shehu Shagari on Friday night, also described the deceased as a ‘‘detribalised Nigerian’’.
His words: “Shehu Shagari was a great patriotic leader and an accomplished gentleman. At first a teacher, an administrator, a technocrat and an honest decent unassuming simple Nigerian leader.
“Shagari will be remembered for his tolerance and politics of peace without bitterness. Former President Shagari was a nationalist who never showed any discrimination due to ethnicity or religion and was a very dependable bridge builder.
“To keep his (Shagari)’s memory alive Nigerian politicians and indeed all fellow Nigerians must put to practice all his ideals of peace and party politics without rancour, irrespective of any form of provocation”.
He therefore urged all persons vying for political office “to emulate him and keep alive the political principles of the late Turakin Sokoto, Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, the quintessential public servant who was “Beckoned to Serve”.
General Babangida, who prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased, said, “The entire nation, his family, entire people of Sokoto State and indeed the Sokoto Caliphate will accept his passing with equanimity”.
The late former President, Shehu Shagari died Friday night in an Abuja hospital.