The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has described the late Alhaji Shehu Shagari, as a patriotic elder statesman, who ensured unity in Nigeria.
Mr Bestman Okereafor, The association’s National Public Relations Officer delivered the condolence message in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday.
Okereafor said: “The attention of the National leadership of the apex students governing body, NANS, has been drawn to the demise of Nigeria’s first elected president, who served between 1979-1983, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
“NANS is joining the Federal Government, all Nigerians both home and in Diaspora and the Shagari family in bidding the former president farewell.
“No doubt Shagari was a patriotic elder statesman worthy of emulation considering how he had continuously given responsive representation to the people.
“For example In 1954, he won a seat at the general election to represent Sokoto South-West Constituency, and four years later, he was appointed parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
“In 1960, he was appointed Minister of Economic Development, and then Minister of Internal Affairs in 1962.
“In 1965 he was Minister of Works and Survey (1965), until Jan. 15, 1966, when a bloody military coup cut short that regime.
” When the military government of Gen. Yakubu Gowon took over after a counter-coup, Shagari was appointed Commissioner of Economic Affairs and later Commissioner of Finance’’.
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