ALMOST 21 years after a coup d’etat that swept him out of office, Second Republic President Shehu Shagari has said he was convinced that General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and other military officers behind the act that toppled his government must have had a good reason to do so, “otherwise they would not have risked their lives pursuing such objective.”
And with this mindset, the erstwhile President said he has forgiven Buhari and other military officers who took part in the coup d’etat that removed his administration December 31, 1983 after about four and a half years in office and thus terminated the Second Republic
He spoke yesterday during the launching of his biography at Kaduna International Trade Fair.
Buhari, who was present at the launching of the book entitled: Tarihia Shehu Shagari and written in Hausa language, clapped vigorously as Shagari spoke.
The former President stated: “I must take this opportunity to declare that I do not in any way hold malice against anyone, including those daring combatants who overthrew my government. This is simply because I am absolutely certain that no sane person would risk his own life unless and until he firmly believes in the cause he was pursuing.”
He continued: “I trust that they sincerely believed that what they were doing was right and proper. There are indeed many who view it differently.
"However, each side, in a free country, is indeed entitled to its own opinion. Period! So let bygones be bygones.
"Let us all join hands in the service of our dear fatherland, Nigeria.”
Commenting on the book, Shagari said that it was a significant landmark in the history of biographies in the country because it was the first time in several years that such a book would be written in vernacular.
“I wish to reiterate that the launching of a book in Hausa language or in any other Nigerian language at this time is a significant landmark to remind us all of our responsibility to preserve our heritage and to respect our history,” the former Nigerian leader said.
He admonished: “Let us resolve to henceforth encourage our people, especially the intelligentsia, to vigorously promote writing and reading in vernacular rather than in English, which with all its positive commendable qualities is unfortunately eating deep into our culture and indeed our own civilisation.”
He praised the authors of the book, Sagir Mohammed and Aliyu Ismaila, for writing the biography “under 12 years of hard work.”
Shagari’s former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, was conspicuously absent at the book launch which was also poorly attended by politicians in the country.
About N25 million was realised at the occasion which was presided over by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, with Bayelsa and Nasarawa state governments purchasing copies for N2 million each.
Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, purchased copies personally for another N1 million while President Olusegun Obasanjo who was represented by the Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Muktar Shagari, bought two copies for N250,000 for himself and members of his family.
Vice President Atiku Abubakar also bought some copies for N500,000 while the Senate President during Shagari’s regime, Dr Joseph Wayas, bought some copies for N250,000.
Others who made purchases include Alhaji Aliko Dangote - N500,000; Buhari N100,000; Kwara State government - N500,000; Cross River State government - N500,000; Alhaji Muktar Shagari - N100,000 and Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) - N100,000.
Kaduna, Gombe, Kano and Rivers States also bought several copies for N1 million each while the former Presidential candidate of the defunct National Republic Convention (NRC), Alhaji Bashir Tofa, purchased some copies for N250,000.
