Alhaji Bala Shagari, eldest son of the Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, has said that before the 93 year old Shagari died, he had specified exactly where his remains should be buried.
The choice of late Shagari, according to Alhaji Bala, contradicted that of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who had wished that his remains were buried at Hubbare, where the legendary Shehu Usman Dan fodio was laid to rest.
“We acknowledged it but late Shagari had told us that he should be buried in Shagari town and even indicated a specific location, so we have to comply with his will.”
Alhaji Bala, who is currently the District Head of Shagari town in Sokoto, said that apart from the choice of where he should be buried, Shagari did not leave any other wills, even as he said that his father had pronounced forgiveness to all those who did wrong to him, including those who staged military coup that overthrew him in 1983.
The eldest son, who spoke today, Sunday, when President Muhammadu Buhari paid condolence visit to the family in Sokoto State, said that his father “pardoned everyone” involved in the coup, even as he expressed appreciation to President Buhari over the condolence visit to the family.
Late Alhaji Shehu Shagari was President of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983. He was dethroned in a coup d’etat that brought in Muhammadu Buhari to power as military head of state, three months after he was sworn-in for the second term.
Source: NAN.
