Shagari’s Burial: Where The Chief Mourner Delegated The Job And Got Sokoto Angry
The Oasis Reporters
December 30, 2018
Can it be imagined that President George Bush would die and being buried without President Trump leading Presidents Bush Jr, Clinton and Obama to lay wreaths and mourn him?
Or President Ronald Reagan being buried without President Clinton leading Presidents Jimmy Carter, George Bush Sr and, George Bush jr to bury him?
Despite political differences, Chief mourner at the burial of President George Bush Sr, President Donald Trump stretches his hand to greet Michelle Obama, as Presidents Obama, Clinton and his wife, Hillary, act the mood at the occasion.
It is the final honour.
Even soldiers give the final salute to fallen fighters in battle. It helps to give citizens reason to believe that your nation cares and that it is worth serving or dying for.
As Nigerians mourned and were burying former President Shehu Shagari, President Buhari was absent. His South South Campaign Flag off Rally was more important. He could not postpone it as a mark of honor and respect.
It will be recalled that when President Shehu Shagari’s illness got worse, he didn’t request to be flown abroad for specialist medical treatment outside of the country, that would have cost taxpayers several millions of naira on medical tourism. He courageously requested to be taken to the National Hospital in Abuja, the Federal Capital.
Yet, it was his home, Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Tambuwal that broke the news on Twitter, simultaneously with President Shagari’s grandsons.
In South Africa, while the country’s first post apartheid President, Nelson Mandela was in hospital, the then President, Jacob Zuma took over the publicity job of announcing the emeritus President’s hour by hour updates on the hospital progress and situation. When Mandela died, it was the President that broke the news.
Classic way of showing respect and giving honour.
Nigerians took to Twitter to express their deep disappointment over the seeming nonchalance and delegation of duty in a situation where the President could have managed it better :
PHOTOS: Governors, Sympathisers Attend Shehu Shagari's Burial In Sokoto. https://t.co/ZUbjXpu4eF pic.twitter.com/GlDkJUd1fL
— Channels Television (@channelstv) December 29, 2018
BUHARI BOOED IN SOKOTO!
As he refused to grace the burial rites of late Shehu Shagari a man he truncated and detained, he opted to go for condolence visit. Unfortunately for him and ROBOTS, KARMA was in full force, as Buhari was openly booed by the bystanders in Sokoto. pic.twitter.com/hoxtTKcZdk
— Ibrahim (@ibrahimado__) December 30, 2018
How do you want people to react to Buhari's absence in Sokoto for the burial of Ex Pres. Shagari when the same PMB attended the burial of Madam Awolowo, a non-public figure whose husband was never even the head of state? Where is the Janazah right of a Muslim over his brother?
— Muneer' A. Sowole 🇳🇬☪️📝 (@munir_saa) December 30, 2018
I'm true fan of Buhari. But buhari insults northern nigeria and nigeria by not attending shagari's burial👎
— Junayd A. Ladan (@Raplox_Yabo) December 30, 2018
I don’t know why Nigerians are irrational in their thinking these days! It will not be a rocket science to know that @MBuhari couldn’t attend Shagari’s burial as he was the one who overthrew him as president. This could have caused a stir at the funeral as some ppl never forgive.
— DanIsah (@imustaphaa) December 30, 2018
#Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari SHUNS Former President Shehu Shagari burial, as Cabinet Secretary Boss Mustapha leads Federal Government delegation https://t.co/REKbtN0n5h pic.twitter.com/7JKoMahwb2
— NigeriaServe (@Nigeriaserve) December 29, 2018
Buhari hated Shehu Shagari and the Sokoto Caliphate to the extent that he refused to attend his burial.
Not only that, Buhari chose to send Boss Mustapha, the SGF, who is a Christian to attend the burial of… https://t.co/HFaxKFfVoU
— Bola Agboola (@bbdelacruz001) December 30, 2018
President Muhammadu Buhari couldn't hide his personal hatred for Alh. Shehu Shagari (even after his death) and Sokoto at large. After overthrowing him in 2nd Republic, he sent Mr. Boss Mustapha [a Christain from Adamawa State], to represent the FG at his burial in the caliphate. pic.twitter.com/C8vjJ2mkxS
— Logic-NG (@LogicNigeria) December 29, 2018
