Monguno’s Passage: Buhari, Saraki pay glowing tributes

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the late Minister of Mines, Power and Petroleum, Alhaji Shettima Monguno, who died last Friday, as “one of the finest statesmen and political actors Nigeria ever had and who would always remain a fountain of inspiration in life and death.” In a related tribute,    President of the Senate,  Senator Bukola Saraki  has described the late elder statesman as a detribalised Nigerian and worthy ambassador. He was one of the finest statesmen – Buhari The President’s tribute was contained in a statement issued by a federal government delegation led by National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd) to the burial in Maiduguri on Saturday.

President Buhari said the late elder statesman from Borno State “ranked among the most respected public figures in Nigeria while in office and while in private retirement life.” The President recalled that in the course of his public service as a parliamentarian and a Federal Minister of Air Force and Internal Affairs during the First Republic, the late Shettima Monguno “had left behind a legacy of untainted and unblemished career”, which he said should be emulated by Nigerian leaders at all levels. According to President Buhari a “man’s greatest pride is to leave behind a good name and that the late Monguno had achieved that desire.” The President prayed the Almighty God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest. Other members of government delegation included the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, the Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Musa Bello, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. MONGUNO was a detribalised Nigerian – Saraki According to Senator Saraki, the former Minister of Mines and Petroleum in the First Republic who is one the last sets of Nigeria’s founding fathers, would be sorely missed considering his giant political strides and contributions to the building of the Nigerian nation, starting from his birth place,  Borno State, to all the nooks and crannies of the country. In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki described Monguno’s death as painful especially coming at a time when the Federal Government has successfully turned the tide against insurgents in the North East. He said, “The late politician was a victim of the insurgency when he was abducted by gunmen at a mosque before he was later rescued.” Saraki said,   “Elder Monguno was a special breed who contributed immensely to the attainment of the nation’s Independence in 1960, became a parliamentarian in the First Republic and thereafter a Federal Minister. His disposition towards effective nation building remains unparalleled. He lived for the welfare and security of the common man.” He urged the family of the deceased, the government and people of Borno State, to be comforted by the fact that Monguno served Allah and mankind diligently and worked hard to make his country great. He said the deceased left a worthy legacy of selfless service and a good name. Saraki prayed that Almighty Allah should grant the late leader a place among the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdaus. “May Allah also grant members of his immediate family, the people and government of Borno State, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”