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President Muhammadu Buhari says the wise counsel of ex-President Shehu Shagari, will forever be missed by Nigerians. 

Buhari said this in his condolence message to the family of Shagari who died at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Friday.

He was the first democratically elected president of Nigeria and was the sole president of the second republic.

“I mourn the departure of a patriot, who served Nigeria with humility, integrity and diligence. Nigerians held him in the highest esteem even when he was out of office, until his demise, and will forever miss his wise counsels,” Buhari tweeted on Friday.

“I pray that Almighty God will comfort his family and all who mourn him, and grant his soul eternal rest.”

I mourn the departure of a patriot, who served Nigeria with humility, integrity and diligence. Nigerians held him in the highest esteem even when he was out of office, until his demise, and will forever miss his wise counsels.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 29, 2018

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I pray that Almighty God will comfort his family and all who mourn him, and grant his soul eternal rest.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 29, 2018

In 1983, the military staged a coup which ended Shagari’s second tenure and ushered in Buhari, then a  major general, as head of state.

During the 9oth birthday of the deceased in 2015, Buhari said Shagari showed him civility and courtesy,  despite ousting his government.

“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, have always been constructive and eloquent,” he had said.