Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari,
Turakin Sakkwato (born February 25, 1925,) served as the
President of NigeriaThe President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
's
Second RepublicThe Second Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.- Founding :...
(1979–1983), after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government.
Shagari is a northerner of
FulaniFula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
extraction and holds the
aristocraticThe aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
title of
Turakin Sakkwato in
the Sokoto Caliphate. He worked as a teacher for a brief period before entering politics in 1954 upon his election to the federal
House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives of Nigeria is the lower house of the country's bicameral National Assembly. The Senate of Nigeria is the upper house....
.
Early life
Shehu Usman Shagari was born in
ShagariShagari is a Local Government Area in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Shagari on the A1 highway. The LGA shares a border with Zamfara State in the south....
villageA village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
to the family of Magaji Aliyu and Mariamu in 1925. His name, Usman, means "
Companion". He was raised in a polygamous family, and was the sixth child born into the family. Prior to becoming
Magajin Shagari, Aliyu, Shehu's father was a farmer, trader and herder. However, due to traditional rites that prevented rulers from participating in business, Aliyu relinquished some of his trading interest when he became the Magaji, or village head, of Shagari village. Aliyu died five years after Shehu's birth, and Shehu's elder brother, Bello, briefly took on his father's mantle as
Magajin Shagari.
The village of Shagari was founded by Fulani Jihadist and cattlemen and later dominated by Hausa traders. Like many Jihadist founded towns, religious recitals was important for children growing up. Shagari was taught recitals at home and later went to a Quranic school at the age of four. However, he was obliged to attend elementary school at
YaboYabo is a Local Government Area in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Yabo. and Yabo local Government is one of the oldest local government in sokoto. since sokoto, kebbi and zamfara are known as sokoto...
, a town close by. After, he went to the Sokoto Middle School and later to Kaduna college.
Early career
Kaduna College originally was created to be a teachers training school. There were few high level civil service professions open to indigenes in Northern Nigeria and coupled with the lack of a post-graduate school except the Yaba Higher college; the teaching profession became the dominant career path early graduates of
KadunaKaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census...
college took and Shagari was no exception. After finishing secondary school, he was called on to become the new pupil-science teacher of Sokoto Middle School, shortly after, he was appointed the science teacher for
ZariaZaria may refer to:*Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Nigeria*Zaria , or Zoria, the Slavic goddess of beauty*Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg, a member of the Dutch royal family...
Middle school. In 1945, after the end
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he moved back to become the science and also history and geography teacher of the Sokoto Middle School. There, he was re-united with his extended family who lived nearby. Six years after, he was posted to
ArgunguArgungu is a city in Nigeria's Kebbi State, situated on the Sokoto River. As of 2007 Argungu had an estimated population of 47,064.The city is the seat of the Argungu Emirate, a traditional state....
as the headmaster of the new primary school there.
Marriages
After, becoming the science teacher for Sokoto Middle School, he had a close look at arranged marriages. His uncle Magaji Basharu and his brother, Bello had tried to have him marry Basharu's granddaughter. However, Shagari gave the visiting bridal train a tauting look, after the visitors left, the bride sensing the atmosphere followed them briskly. Shagari later married twice to Hadiza and Aishatu Shagari.
Early political career
Starting from the late 1930s, a few Northern Nigeria political organizations started mushrooming. Shagari who was educated at Kaduna college, was already well versed in the early independence movement in Southern Nigeria as an avid reader of southern newspapers. He also held strong social views about development of Yabo, his district in Sokoto. In 1946, Shagari and Mallam Gambo Abuja started the Youth Social Circle, a political organization centered around Sokoto. They were supported by noble men such as
Ahmadu BelloSir Ahmadu Bello was a Nigerian politician, and was the first premier of the Northern Nigeria region from 1954-1966. He was one of the prominent leaders in Northern Nigeria alongside Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, both of whom were prominent in negotiations about the region's place in an independent...
, Ibrahim Gusau, and Mallam Ahamdu Dabbaba. By 1948, a consolidation idea was initiated in the region to merge all the nascent political organizations under one group. The youth social circle of Sokoto agreed to the merger, and together with other groups formed the Northern People's congress. Later on, the organization became a political party and went on to win the national parliamentary election in 1959. Before 1959, Shagari was elected to represent the constituency of Sokoto Southwest. In 1958, he was appointed parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister,
Abubakar Tafawa BalewaAlhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. Originally a trained teacher, he became a vocal leader for Northern interest as one of the few educated Nigerians of his time...
. Shagari later went on to hold the positions of minister of Economic Development in 1960, minister of Internal Affairs in 1962 and minister of Works and Survey in 1965. However, the first republic was cut short by a military coup.
Shagari returned to Sokoto to work on his farm and later to work as a councilor for the Sokoto Native Authority. In 1970, as part of a movement to broaden the government,
Yakubu GowonGeneral Yakubu "Jack" Dan-Yumma Gowon was the head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. He took power after one military coup d'etat and was overthrown in another...
made Shagari a minister of Economic affairs and later of Finance.
Gowon's government was later overthrown as part of a military putsch by some military officers. A new democratic return timetable was initiated by the new Administration. As part of its preparation for democratic return, the government of Obasanjo established a constitutional conference. Members to the conference where both elected and selected. Within the conference, a national organization was formed among some members, the organization was called National Movement, it later metamorphosized to become the National Party of Nigeria and contested the 1979 election with Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari as its presidential candidate.
Presidency
| Shagari's Ministers |
| OFFICE |
NAME |
TERM |
PresidentThe President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
|
Shehu Shagari |
1979–1983 |
| Vice President The Vice President of Nigeria is the second-in-command to the President of Nigeria in the Government of Nigeria. Officially styled Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The Vice President is elected alongside the President in national elections...
|
Alex Ekwueme |
1979–1983 |
| Transportation |
Umaru Dikko Umaru Dikko is a Nigerian politician and was a trusted adviser to President Shehu Shagari. He was also the Nigerian minister for Transportation from 1979-1983....
|
1979–1983 |
| Agriculture |
Ibrahim Gusau Ibrahim Gusau is a Nigerian politician and former minister for Agriculture and Industries. He is also a member of the Sokoto Sultanate council and was a member of the 1977 and 1995 constitutional assembly.-References:...
|
1979–1982 |
| |
Adamu Ciroma Adamu Ciroma is a Nigerian politician and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He is currently a member of the People's Democratic Party.-Second Republic career:...
|
1982–1983 |
| Commerce |
Maitama Bello Yusuf Maitama Bello Yusuf is a Nigerian politician and a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was educated at Northgate University, Washington...
|
1981–1983 |
| Communications |
Akanbi Oniyangi Akanbi Mahmoud Oniyangi was a Nigerian politician and former Minister for commerce and Defense during the aborted second republic. He was born in Kwara State and was educated at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria...
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1979–1981 |
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Isaac Shaahu Isaac Shaahu is a Nigerian politician from what is termed the middle belt of Nigeria. He was a cabinet minister in the aborted second republic. He later became Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum.-References:...
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1981–1983 |
| Minister of Defence The Minister of Defence of Nigeria is a senior cabinet official in the Nigerian Federal Executive Council in charge of the Nigerian Ministry of Defence...
|
Iya AbubakarProfessor Iya Abubakar is a Nigerian mathematician and politician who was Federal Minister of Defence during the Nigerian Second Republic, and Senator for Adamawa North from May 1999 to May 2007.-Birth and academic career:...
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1979–1981 |
| |
Akanbi Oniyangi Akanbi Mahmoud Oniyangi was a Nigerian politician and former Minister for commerce and Defense during the aborted second republic. He was born in Kwara State and was educated at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria...
|
1981–1983 |
| Housing |
Wahab Dosumu Wahab Dosunmu, is a Nigerian politician and was a former minister for housing in Nigeria. He was an elected member to the Nigerian senate from 1999-2003...
|
1979–1982 |
| |
Alhaji Ahmed Musa |
1982–1983 |
| Abuja |
John Kadiya John Kadiya was a Nigerian politician, administrator and former minister. He was the gubernatorial candidate in the Plateau State elections of 1983, representing the National Party of Nigeria. He was detained under the Administration of General Buhari in 1984 and was not released until 1985, when a...
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1979–1982 |
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Abubakar Iro Danmusa Abubakar Iro Danmusa is a Nigerian politician and former minister of the Federal Capital Territory. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of PDP. Recently, he was the coordinator of the failed presidential campaign of Gov Victor Attah.-References:...
|
1982–1983 |
| Education |
Sylvester Ugoh Sylvester Ugoh was the Vice Presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention in 1993, the NRC's Presidential candidate being Bashir Tofa.-References:...
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1982–1983 |
| Foreign Affairs The Nigerian foreign ministry is a statutory body created to handle the external push of Nigeria's domestic vision and ideals; it is headed by the Foreign Minister of Nigeria. As of late its mission has geared towards increasing awareness about Nigeria's economic potential...
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Ishaya Audu Ishaya Sha'aibu Audu was a Nigerian doctor, professor, and politician. A Hausa Christian, he served as Minister of External Affairs from 1979 to 1983 under Shehu Shagari....
|
1979–1983 |
| Justice The Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice, commonly referred to as the Justice Secretary, is a cabinet position in the Scottish Government...
|
Richard Akinjide Osuolale Abimbola Richard Akinjide is a Nigerian lawyer, politician and tribal nobleman. Born in the ancient city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in the southwest of the country in the early 1930s to an influential family of warriors, he exhibited extraordinary brilliance while in school and...
|
1979–1983 |
| Steel |
Ali Makele |
1979–1983 |
Shagari won the 1979 election with the help of his campaign manager,
Umaru DikkoUmaru Dikko is a Nigerian politician and was a trusted adviser to President Shehu Shagari. He was also the Nigerian minister for Transportation from 1979-1983....
, political men of prominence in the North and among southern minorities, and some money bags interested in protecting their interest. Nevertheless, the party captured the ethnic and social demographics as good or even better than his adversaries. The party's motto was "One Nation, One Destiny" and it tried to promote this motto even to its detriment. Shagari, made Housing, Industries, Transportation and Agriculture as the major goals of his administration, particularly in his early stages of governance during the oil boom. However, most of his programs had incongruous outcomes. In Housing, he launched a large scale housing program that built estates such as "Shagari Estate" but also launched the careers of Nigeria's legendary money bags who swamped the Nigerian ports with imported cement to complete the housing projects. In Industries, Shagari completed the Delta Steel complex in 1982, and spent hundred of millions of dollars on the
AjaokutaAjaokuta is a Local Government Area in Kogi State, Nigeria and a town within it on the left bank of the Niger River. The headquarters of the LGA are in the town of Egayan in the south of the area at....
Steel complex and the Steel rolling mills. However, allegations of kickbacks to prominent politicians hovers like a cloud on those projects. In transportation, he launched road networks across the country, the ministry headed by Umaru Dikko, was vital in the programs of the NPN led government. In terms of agriculture, a
Green RevolutionGreen Revolution refers to a series of research, development, and technology transfer initiatives, occurring between the 1940s and the late 1970s, that increased agriculture production around the world, beginning most markedly in the late 1960s....
program was initiated to foster the use of mechanical machinery in farming. It favored large scale farmers in order to produce mass products. However, it was hampered by the prevalence of retired military officers, who had acquired land as parting gift under the previous administration and had the necessary hectares to influence large favors under the program.
Economic stabilization
The fall in oil price that started since 1981 affected the finances of the Nigerian government. Shagari initiated an Economic Stabilization Program to help protect the country against a hard landing from prior highs of the 70's and to steward the economy towards positive growth. Key objectives of the program was to limit import licences, already abused by money bags and officials, reduce government spending and raise custom duties. However, the results from the stabilization program was minimal and the country fell into further economic quagmire.
Allegations of corruption and maladministration
The prominence of money bags who financed the elections of 1979 and lapse ethical judgement by ministers under Shagari heightened allegations of corruption. This included the Nigeria election of 1983 marked by accusations of
electoral fraudElectoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
, coupled with a decline in world oil prices, led to a marked deterioration in the national finances under Shagari's watch, while religious and political violence became so endemic that his overthrow by General
Muhammadu BuhariMuhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
on New Year's Eve in 1983 was actually looked upon with relief by most of the Nigerian public at the time.
Further reading
- Shehu Othman: Classes, Crises and Coup: The Demise of Shagari's Regime. African Affairs > Vol. 83, No. 333
- "Special advisers to the Nigerian President", 1979. The British Broadcasting Corporation.
- "Nigerian Cabinet Changes", the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, February 17, 1982.
See also
- List of Presidents of Nigeria
- Sokoto
Sokoto is a city located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2006 it has a population of 427,760...