President Muhammadu Buhari has described the late former Minister of Mines, Power and Petroleum, Alhaji Shettima Monguno, as “one of the finest statesmen and political actors Nigeria ever had.’’
This is contained in a statement signed by Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Saturday.
The statement said that the president condoled Borno Government and people in a condolence message conveyed by a Federal Government delegation led by retired Major General Babagana Munguno to the funeral of the late elder statesman in Maiduguri on Saturday.
The statement quoted Buhari as saying that the deceased would “always remain fountain of inspiration in life and death’’.
According to the president, the late elder statesman from Borno, ranked among the most respected public figures in Nigeria while in office and while in retirement life.
He recalled that in the course of his public service as a Parliamentarian and a Federal Minister of Internal Affairs in the First Republic, late Monguno “left behind a legacy of untainted and unblemished career’’.
He said such virtues should be emulated by Nigerian leaders at all levels.
“Man’s greatest pride is to leave behind a good name and the late Monguno achieved that desire,’’ he added.
Buhari, who said that it would take volumes to narrate Monguno’s sterling virtues, extended his condolences to the family, government and the people of Borno over the loss.
He prayed Almighty God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest.
The government delegation, according to the statement, included the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu. (NAN)