By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
The Sokoto Heritage Reloaded Initiative, a Civil Society Organisation has lodged a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rename NOUN after late second republic President,Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari as Shehu Shagari Open University in fulfilment of a national promise by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari administration to immortalise him.
It said the gesture would serve as a tribute not just to his (Shagari)legacy, but his enduring vision for an educated and enlightened Nigeria.
The Buhari administration had promised to immortalise the second republic president by naming a national monument after him.
Addressing press in Sokoto at the weekend on behalf of the Initiative, Professor Uthman Abdulqadir who noted that President Tinubu was a man of loyalty and principle that who stood shoulder to shoulder with his predecessor, late former President Buhari , would not only honour a great son of Nigeria ( late Shagari) but write his name in gold as a leader who kept promises in good faith even across administration’s.
It is in this spirit of continuity, respect for history and deep sense of justice we are appealing to your excellency to immortalise late second republic President Shehu Shagari ”
According to Abdulqadir ” Doing so will further signal that Nigeria is a country that remembers, rewards legacy and respects the contributions of its heroes past.
” With your well-known respect for national icons and commitment to unity, we are confident that you will heed to this noble call. I. Honouring Shagari, you honour the values of humility and patriotism that define the Nigerian spirit
” From the days of struggle for democracy to the merger that birthed a new political era in Nigeria, your commitment to late former President Buhari and to national progress is well known and commendable .”
Abdulqadir who’s emotional plea was coming years after the demise of Shagari, said late Shagari was not only a leader but a symbol of humility, integrity and statesmanship pointing out that his vision for Nigeria in the area of education gave rise to what today the country remain proud of in distance and open learning now NOUN as his conception.
” It was conceived by Shagari as a revolutionary idea to democratise access to higher education”, he said while praying Tinubu’s leadership would strengthen and uplift Nigeria and bind the country as one, united nation under the devine guidance of God.”
