Shehu Shagari

Shehu Shagari was born on 25 February 1925 in Shagari, a village founded by his great-grandfather, Ahmadu Rufa'i. He was the sixth child of his father, Aliyu Shagari, who was the Magajin Shagari (village head). He attended Kaduna College and became a teacher. He entered politics in 1951 and was elected to the federal House of Representatives in 1954. He held various ministerial positions in the governments of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Yakubu Gowon. He retired to his hometown after the military coup of 1966 that ended civilian rule. He returned to politics in 1978 and became the presidential candidate of the National Party of Nigeria. He won the 1979 election and became the first democratically elected president of Nigeria. He faced many challenges during his tenure, such as the international economic crisis, corruption, ethnic tensions, and a failed coup attempt. He was re-elected in 1983, but was overthrown by a military coup led by Muhammadu Buhari on 31 December 1983. He was arrested and detained until 1986, when he was cleared of corruption charges and released. He was banned from politics for life, but remained a respected elder statesman and a voice for democracy. He died on 28 December 2018 at the age of 93.