BY DAMOLA EMMANUEL
He was in power but never in charge
– Muyiwa Akintunde (PR consultant)
Shehu Shagari’s ultimate ambition was to be a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He ended up becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In that responsibility, he was in power but not in charge as the likes of Chief Adisa Akinloye and Dr. Umaru Dikko held sway. There were no tears as his administration fell under military jackboot on the eve of 1984.
To his credit, he was not found wanting of corruption by the military government that overthrew his administration. He shunned partisan politics ever since playing the role of a statesman until his end at a ripe age.
Shagari headed an inept government
-Tunde Aremu
(Head, Policy, Advocacy, Campaigns and Communications Unit of ActionAid Nigeria)
We are a people that forget too soon. Or is it that we have experienced evil so much we now canonise some as preferred vicissitudes? Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari headed a government known for ineptitude, brazen attacks on public purse and contempt for the people. Check history, check facts, check what provided excuse for military adventurers in power and the foundation for the hardship of the rest of the ‘80s and succeeding years.
Vanity upon vanity
-Dr. Eno Abasi,
(Alternative Medial Practitioner, Abuja)
President Shagari’s death has proved that there is nothing to this world. All is vanity. We all have our date of manufacture as well as expiry date. His own expiry just came. We don’t know who is next.
President Shagari’s reign was one of the greatest in Nigeria
-Pastor Isaac Adeyemi
Ex-President Shehu Shagari was a very fine gentle man, soft spoken and easy going. His reign as President of the country in the second republic was one of our greatest time when compared to what is obtainable now. He was so gentle that those around him even took advantage of him like President Jonathan. But nonetheless, he was not a mean President. He was a success by any standard. May His gentle soul rest in peace.
Good man in bad company
-Rev. Dr. Gabriel Oyediji
(General Overseer, Compassionate Outreach Ministries, Lagos; National Secretary, Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria)
As a person, President Shehu Shagari was a good man who found himself in a bad company. It’s a paradox. Isn’t it? He was a good man who headed a bad government. He was so weak he couldn’t do anything about people around him who held his government captive and plundered the economy. I don’t know how history will judge him. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Count me out of any condolence
-Tokunbo Oke
It is only in Nigeria that when the class enemy dies, after a life time of shitting on our heads, that we will be calling for the gentle repose of his soul. I refuse to be part of such nonsense! We forget way too quickly, Shagari and co are somewhat responsible for the mess we find ourselves in today.
Who will soothe the pain of the Nigerian masses whose lives are hell because of what Shagari and the cabal of kleptocrats who surrounded him did whilst in office? We need to remember who our enemies are and what they have done to us.
Don’t tag me with any rest in peace crap because I am the true son of my class….