The Shagari family and the nation are in mourning following the death of Hajiya Sutura Shehu Shagari, the last surviving wife of former Nigerian President Shehu Shagari. She passed away at the age of 89.
Announcement and Circumstances of Her Passing
The sad news was formally announced in a statement signed by Capt. Bala Shagari, the eldest son of the late president who also serves as the Sarkin Mafaran Shagari. According to the family, Hajiya Sutura died on Monday, November 10, at approximately 3 p.m. after battling a prolonged illness.
The statement described her with deep affection, noting she was "an embodiment of grace, humility and quiet strength who lived a life with dignity." Her death marks the end of an era for the Shagari family, as she was the final wife of the former leader who ushered in Nigeria's Second Republic in 1979.
National Mourning and Condolence Visit
Vice President Kashim Shettima led a federal government delegation to Sokoto to condole with the grieving family. Shettima, who said he was acting on the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, described Hajiya Sutura's passing as a significant loss to Nigeria.
"We are here... to condole with the government and people of Sokoto State, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and the immediate family of our late President, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, over the sad event," the Vice President stated. He prayed for Almighty Allah to grant her soul Aljannah Firdaus and give the family fortitude.
The Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, thanked the Vice President for the visit, highlighting it as a gesture of love and concern. The leader of the Shagari family, Capt. Bala Shagari, also expressed gratitude for the federal delegation's show of solidarity during their moment of grief.
A Season of Loss for the Shagari Circle
Hajiya Sutura's death comes just three months after the passing of another prominent figure from President Shagari's era. Audu Ogbeh, who served as Minister of Communications under Shagari and later as Minister of Agriculture, died on Saturday, August 9, at the age of 78.
His family announced his peaceful passing, describing him as a man who left behind "a legacy of integrity, service, and dedication." Ogbeh was also a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), making his death another major loss for the nation's political landscape.
The recent bereavements within the wider political family underscore the passing of a generation that played pivotal roles in Nigeria's democratic journey.
