Nigeria’s Second Republic, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, has stated the reason he ran for a second term in office with the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.
The reason, according to him, was Ekwueme’s loyalty.
He said the former vice president who died in a London hospital on November 19, 2017, could be trusted.
Ekwueme was Shagari’s vice between 1979 and 1983.
His words: “Dr. Ekwueme was a deputy I trusted. We understood each other well and it was impossible for mischief makers to drive a wedge between us.
“He was a loyal lieutenant and because of his excellent contributions to the success of our administration during our first tenure, I had no hesitation to nominate him to run with me again for second term.”
Shagari, in a tribute to Ekwueme, said he was a courageous man who stood against the attempt by Gen. Sani Abacha who planned to transmute from military head of state to a civilian president.
“This great democrat dared the military government of Gen. Sani Abacha, by demonstrating against the infamous agenda to transmute from military head of state to civilian president via a contrived political transition programme.
“Taking a great risk, Dr. Ekwueme, together with other nationalists under the aegis of G34 doggedly withstood the military rule of Gen. Abacha, and later mid-wife the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),” he said.
He spoke of him further: “He has served Nigeria diligently. He has done his bit. In life he was a great man; a patriot; a statesman. Even in death his many achievements and greatness cannot be diminished.
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“It is considered socially inappropriate to speak ill of the dead. So often those who pay tribute to the dead shower on them undeserved praise. I stand not to give undeserved eulogy to this hero.
“Whatever I say here today, I have said of him in his life time…
“I will continue to relish the memory of the good times we shared together.
“Dr. Alex Ekwueme has finished his own race and has gone to rest.
“It is left for those of us still alive to emulate the virtues he exemplified especially serving humanity with the fear of God.”
