Former Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and other Nigerians have have  expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, GCFR who died Friday at 93 in Abuja.

Babangida said:  “My heart and prayers go to his Family, the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Sokoto Caliphate and Sokoto state.

” Nigeria and indeed Africa has lost a statesman and democrat whose wisdom, counsel, presence and experience and his sterling qualities of honesty and transparency are needed in these very trying moments of our national life.

“President Shehu Shagari was a great patriotic leader and an accomplished gentleman, at first a teacher, an administrator, a technocrat and an honest decent unassuming simple Nigerian Leader.

“He will be remembered for his tolerance and politics of peace without bitterness.

” President Shehu Shagari was a nationalist who never showed any discrimination due to ethnicity or religion and was a very dependable bridge builder.

“To keep his memory alive Nigerian politicians and indeed all fellow Nigerians must put to practice all his ideals of peace and party politics without rancour, irrespective of any form of provocation”.

APC leader Bola Tinubu wrote: ”Former President Shehu Shagari was a decent man and a statesman, who believed in and worked for the unity of this country.

”He served Nigeria in different capacities – administrator, provincial secretary, House of Representatives member, minister in several ministries and president – and in each capacity he did excellently well.

“He contributed his quota to the growth and development of the country.

”In the Second Republic, as the first executive president, his was a moderating voice, a stabilising factor.

”Even within the defunct NPN, with all its reputation, he was of a different type.  He wore integrity on his collar like a badge of honour.

“He was true and pure.  He was humble and humane. He led a Spartan way of life. He was modest and unpretentious. Truthful and sincere. He was generally a good man.

“He saw the good qualities of his political opponent, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he gifted him the highest honor in the land, the GCFR award. ”

President of the Senate Bukola Saraki wrote: “My family and I join the entire nation to mourn the passing of former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who led our nation in the Second Republic.

“President Shagari was a quintessential public servant, haven served in seven cabinet positions and as a legislator.

“He dedicated his best years in service of our nation and its people.

“May Allah grant him a place among the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdaus.”