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Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari
Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the first democratically elected President of Nigeria, serving from 1979 to 1983. He was a prominent political figure and leader of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Shagari played a key role in Nigeria's post-independence governance and development. His tenure ended with a military coup, but his legacy remains significant in the nation's history.
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Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, born on February 25, 1925, in the village of Shagari, Sokoto State, Nigeria, was the first democratically elected President of Nigeria's Second Republic, serving from 1979 until his ousting by a military coup in 1983. He hailed from a Fulani family and received his education in Sokoto and at the famous Barewa College in Zaria. Shagari began his political career in the early 1950s and became an active member of the Northern People's Congress (NPC), serving in various roles within Nigeria’s regional and federal governments.
In 1954, Shagari was elected to the federal House of Representatives. Over the next two decades, he held several important ministerial positions, including Minister of Economic Development in 1959, Minister of Internal Affairs in 1962, and Minister of Finance in 1965. After the Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970, Shagari became the Federal Commissioner for Economic Development, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction. In the lead-up to the 1979 elections, Shagari helped form the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and eventually became its presidential candidate.
In 1979, Shagari was elected President in Nigeria’s first presidential election since the end of military rule, and his presidency focused on expanding the economy, increasing agricultural production, and advancing Nigeria's infrastructure. His administration launched a "Green Revolution" aimed at making Nigeria self-sufficient in food production. He also undertook large-scale investments in industries like steel and oil. However, his government was plagued by allegations of corruption and economic mismanagement, particularly in the handling of Nigeria’s oil wealth.
Shagari was re-elected in 1983, but his second term was cut short on December 31, 1983, when he was overthrown in a military coup led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari. After the coup, Shagari was placed under house arrest until 1986. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Shagari was never formally charged with any crimes related to corruption during his time in office. After his release, Shagari retired from politics and lived a quiet life until his death on December 28, 2018, at the age of 93. Shagari remains a significant figure in Nigerian history for his role in leading the country through a tumultuous period of its development as a democratic nation.
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GOVERNING TIME LINE
Alhaji Shehu Shagari assumed office as the President of Nigeria on October 1, 1979, after the country transitioned from military to civilian rule. His presidency marked the beginning of the Second Republic, following years of military rule. Shagari, a member of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), was elected in a hotly contested election, bringing a sense of optimism about the return to democratic governance. However, his administration faced significant challenges, including economic difficulties, corruption, and political instability. On December 31, 1983, Shagari’s presidency was abruptly ended when he was overthrown in a military coup led by General Muhammadu Buhari, marking the collapse of the Second Republic and a return to military rule in Nigeria.