Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has expressed deep sadness at the death of foremost educationalist and politician, Shettima Ali Monguno (CFR), who passed on Friday at the age of 90.
In a press statement signed by his special adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan in Lagos, the speaker, said the passing on of the late elder statesman is a big loss, not only to the government and people of Borno State, but to the entire nation as a whole.
Dogara said Monguno’s death is even more painful considering that he was a man of great experience in many critical sectors of the country, having served as the head of many agencies of government.
“Monguno was a man of honour and an achiever. In all his national assignments, he was forthright, dedicated and showed great patriotism in the discharge of his duties.
He was a unifying force for the nation and his contribution to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria cannot be forgotten in a hurry,” Dogara stated.
Dogara noted that the elder statesman died at a time the country and its leadership is in dire need of his wealth of experience and wisdom to overcome the multifaceted challenges facing the nation.
While expressing his sympathies to the family of the deceased and the government and people of Borno State, he prayed the Almighty God to grant him eternal rest and comfort all those he left behind.
The late Monguno was a member of parliament in 1959, education secretary and councilor for education, works and social welfare Borno, local Government 1959-65 before moving to Federal minister for Air Force and internal affair 1965-66, federal commissioner for trade and industries 1967-71, Minister of mines and power, petroleum and energy in 1972-75.
He was also President, OPEC, 1972/1973. He was Presidential Candidate during the Option A4 Elections in the early 1990s in Nigeria and leader of Nigerian delegation to UNCAD II New Delhi in 1968 and member Nigerian delegation to United Nations for over 10 years. He was also Pro-chancellor of the University of Nigeria from 1980 to 1984.