Mr. Nurin Muhammad, the maternal grandson of former President Shehu Shagari, has expressed deep disappointment over the way former President Muhammadu Buhari handled his grandfather’s death and burial in 2018.
Speaking during an interview on Inside Sources, Nurin recalled the events that followed Shagari’s passing on December 28, 2018, at the National Hospital in Abuja. According to him, the family expected President Buhari, who was in office at the time, to honour Shagari in a dignified and respectful manner, considering his status as Nigeria’s first executive president.
However, Nurin revealed that Buhari did not attend the burial, which was fixed for the following day at 1:00 p.m. in Sokoto. Instead, he sent a delegation led by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha. Buhari himself visited the family two days later, on Sunday, December 30th.
Mr. Nurin Muhammad shared how the family was shocked by Buhari’s attitude during the visit.
“He was reminded to sign the condolence register, but all he was able to do was to sign his signature and date. So after that he gave the governor his condolences. He didn’t write any tribute, any prayer,” Nurin stated.
He added that although Buhari brought a condolence letter, which was read by Governor Tambuwal, the gesture felt empty. The letter had promised to name a national monument after President Shagari as a way to immortalise him, but according to Nurin, that promise has still not been fulfilled to date.
Efforts made by the Shagari family to follow up on the promise were unsuccessful. Nurin said the family even began discussing handing over Shagari’s house in Shagari town to the federal government to serve as a monument, but nothing concrete has happened yet.
He expressed sadness that despite Shagari’s service to Nigeria before independence, after independence, and as president, he was not given the honour he truly deserved.
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