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Former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party were among those who paid a condolence visit to the family of the late first executive President of Nigeria, Shehu Shagari, on Sunday.
Jonathan and Obi were received at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto by the state Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, before proceeding to Shagari’s residence where many others had gathered to commiserate with the family.
At the residence, Jonathan described Shagari as a unifier.
“One thing unique about Shagari is that those who have interacted with him know that in spite of the serious positions he held, he was a very simple and humble man,” Jonathan said.
Shagari had died on Friday, December 28, just over a year and one month after Alex Ekwueme who was vice president under him died.
For Peter Obi, Shagari’s decision to pick Ekwueme as his running mate is something that the people of the South-East will not forget.
He said, “Next year will be 40 years that Dr Alex Ekwueme was his vice president. Imagine what it is for us that for the past 40 years we’ve never had the opportunity of being part of the executive arm of government (in that capacity); and this (Shagari was the man who gave us the opportunity.
“Dr Ekwueme would always tell us that you need to work with somebody like Shagari to appreciate what leadership is all about.”
Shehu Shagari was Nigeria’s President from 1979 to 1983 when he was forced out of power by the military.
A teacher before going into politics, Shagari held many positions before becoming President.
Since his death tributes have continued to pour in with many praising him for his patriotism, humility, leadership and service to the nation.
He was 93.
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