The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described the late former Nigerian president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, as a symbol of peace and unity.
In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, on Friday, ACF said the late Turakin Sokoto not only engraved his name in the annals of Nigerian history as an elder statesman but also rendered selfless service to the North and Nigeria.
The forum said Nigeria has lost a great leader and a stabilizing personality whose wisdom had greatly influenced the nation’s polity.
It said the late president will fondly be remembered for his humility, respect for democratic ideals and invaluable contributions to the unity, peaceful coexistence of Nigerians and overall development of the country.
“The ACF mourns the passing on of the first Executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, our amiable Patron, elder statesman and Turakin Sokoto, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, GCFR at the age of 93.
“The late Alhaji Shehu Shagari was a federal minister in the First Republic and also the minister of Finance and Economic Development during the military regime of Gen Yakubu Gowon which supervised the judicious implementation of the three Rs (Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation) after the civil war.
“Alhaji Shagari was a member of the 1977/78 Constituent Assembly and the first elected Executive President of Nigeria under the Presidential system of government in 1979 that laid an enviable foundation for our present day democracy,” it stated.
The forum said the best way to remember Alhaji Shehu Shagari is for those of us whom he has left behind to live up his legacies by way of promoting national ideals, moral values and respect for sacred core of inviolability of the individual.
“ACF extends her condolence to all Nigerians, the Government and people of Sokoto state and the late Shagari’s family over this irreparable loss of the great elder statesman and ACF patron. May his soul rest in perfect peace in Aljannah Firdaus. Amin,” it added.
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