Shehu Shagari: Detailed History, Leadership, Achievements, and Challenges Early Life and Background

 

Shehu Shagari: Detailed History, Leadership, Achievements, and Challenges

Early Life and Background

Birth and Family

• Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari was born on February 25, 1925, in Shagari, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
• His family was Fulani, with a long history of Islamic scholarship and leadership.
• His great-grandfather founded the Shagari village in present-day Sokoto State.

Education

• Attended Shagari Primary School, Sokoto Middle School, and Kaduna College (now Barewa College).
• Trained as a teacher at the Teachers Training College, Zaria.

Early Career and Entry into Politics

• Started as a teacher in Sokoto and Zaria before joining politics in 1951.
• Elected into Sokoto’s House of Representatives in 1951 under the Northern People’s Congress (NPC).
• Served in various ministerial positions during the First Republic (1960–1966) under Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa:
  • Minister of Economic Development (1959–1960)
  • Minister of Internal Affairs (1962–1965)
  • Minister of Works (1965–1966)
• After the 1966 coup, the military took over, and Shagari retired from active politics.

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How Shehu Shagari Became President (1979)

Return to Civilian Rule

• After years of military rule, General Olusegun Obasanjo organized a return to democracy.
• In 1978, Shagari co-founded the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
• The NPN selected him as their presidential candidate in the 1979 election.

1979 Elections and Victory

• Shagari won the election against candidates like Obafemi Awolowo (UPN), Nnamdi Azikiwe (NPP), and Aminu Kano (PRP).
• Became Nigeria’s first executive president on October 1, 1979.
• His Vice President was Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

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Leadership as President (1979–1983)

Major Achievements

1. Education Expansion

• Launched the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program to increase school enrollment.
• Established more secondary schools and universities.
• Built technical colleges and polytechnics to improve skills training.

2. Economic Development

• Focused on industrialization, agriculture, and housing projects.
• Created new industrial plants, such as:
  • Ajaokuta Steel Mill (to boost Nigeria’s steel industry).
  • Kaduna and Warri refineries to expand the oil sector.
• Launched the Green Revolution to improve food production.

3. Infrastructure Development

• Built roads, bridges, and low-cost housing estates.
• Improved telecommunication and electricity supply.

4. Foreign Policy and African Leadership

• Strengthened Nigeria’s role in Africa and the ECOWAS region.
• Supported the fight against apartheid in South Africa.
• Helped stabilize Liberia and other West African nations.

5. Peaceful Coexistence and National Unity

• Appointed ministers from all parts of Nigeria to promote unity.
• Encouraged religious and ethnic tolerance.

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Challenges and Failures of Shagari’s Government

1. Economic Crisis Due to Oil Price Crash

• Nigeria’s economy relied heavily on oil exports.
• When global oil prices crashed in the early 1980s, government revenue dropped sharply.
• This led to:
  • High unemployment.
  • Inflation and rising cost of living.
  • Failure to complete many public projects.

2. Corruption and Mismanagement

• Many government officials were accused of corruption and embezzlement.
• Large-scale corruption was reported in:
  • Importation of cement and rice.
  • Steel and oil sectors.
  • Allocation of government contracts.
• Despite his personal integrity, Shagari struggled to control corruption.

3. 1983 Election Crisis and Allegations of Rigging

• In 1983, Shagari contested for re-election.
• He won the election, but opposition parties accused the NPN of electoral fraud.
• There were reports of:
  • Vote rigging.
  • Ballot box stuffing.
  • Intimidation of opposition candidates.
• Many Nigerians lost confidence in democracy after the election.

4. Rising Ethnic and Religious Tensions

• Nigeria faced several ethnic and religious crises, especially in the North.
• The Maitatsine religious uprising in Kano (1980) led to violent clashes.
• Government forces had to suppress the riots, leading to many deaths.

5. Military Discontent and Coup Plot

• The military was unhappy with Shagari’s government.
• Officers accused him of weak leadership and allowing corruption.
• Some senior military officers planned to overthrow him.

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The December 31, 1983 Coup and His Overthrow

• On December 31, 1983, the military, led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari, overthrew Shehu Shagari’s government.
• Reasons given by the military for the coup:
  • Corruption in government.
  • Economic mismanagement.
  • Allegations of electoral fraud in the 1983 elections.
• Shagari was placed under house arrest, while his ministers were jailed.

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Post-Presidency and Later Life

• After his removal, Shagari remained out of active politics.
• He was pardoned by General Ibrahim Babangida in the 1990s.
• Spent his later years writing, advising leaders, and promoting democracy.
• Died on December 28, 2018, at the age of 93.

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Legacy of Shehu Shagari

Achievements

✔ First executive president of Nigeria.
✔ Expanded education through the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program.
✔ Built major infrastructure, industries, and refineries.
✔ Promoted democracy and civilian rule.
✔ Strengthened Nigeria’s foreign relations in Africa.

Failures and Criticisms

❌ Failed to stop corruption within his government.
❌ Over-reliance on oil revenue led to economic instability.
❌ The 1983 election was widely seen as fraudulent.
❌ Did not manage ethnic and religious crises effectively.
❌ His weak leadership led to a military coup.

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Conclusion

Shehu Shagari’s presidency was a mix of achievements and failures. While he expanded education, infrastructure, and foreign relations, his government was plagued by corruption, economic decline, and electoral fraud. His overthrow in 1983 marked the end of Nigeria’s Second Republic, leading to another long period of military rule.