I toppled Shagari’s govt, yet he shows me civility – Buhari

General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has described former President Shehu Shagari as a man of civility who bears no grudge against him despite ousting him out of office in the military coup of 1983. In his congratulatory message to Shagari on his 90th birthday anniversary, Buhari described the former president as the “grand old man of Nigerian politics” just as he praised him for his eloquence and constructive contributions at every meeting of the council of state meetings.

Read also: Fitch affirms 10 Nigerian banks’ stable outlook

The congratulatory message reads: “Although I am physically unable to be present as I am abroad on previously arranged assignments, I wish to send my good wishes to former President Shehu Shagari on his 90th birthday. “Alhaji Shehu Shagari is now the grand old man of Nigerian politics, having been in the frame of public affairs since the colonial days. “Although my government forcibly removed his government, he has always shown me civility and much courtesy. His contributions at the National Council of State meetings which I attend to have always been constructive and eloquent. “I wish the former president many more years of good health and peaceful retirement.” Shagari, who clocks 90 years today, was president of Nigeria between October 1, 1979, and December 31, 1983, before he was deposed in a coup d’état that led to Buhari’s emergence as head of state.