By Rose Onda
The widow of former President Shehu Shagari has died from COVID-19 complications.
Nigeria is currently battling a third wave of COVID-19.
In a statement signed on behalf of the family, the Sarkin Marafan Shagari, Muhammad Bala Shagari (retd Capt.), said Hadiza died at a hospital in Abuja in the wee hours of Thursday.
“We regret to announce the demise of our beloved mother, Hajiya Hadiza Shehu Shagari, the wife of H.E late President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, GCFR (Turakin Sokoto).”
“We lost her in the early hours of today, 12th August 2021, at about 3:00 am, after battling Covid-19 at the Gwagwalada Isolation Center in Abuja.”
The statement said the deceased aged 80 would be buried on Thursday evening.
“Hajiya Hadiza Shehu Shagari was 80 years old. Her Jana’iza (Funeral Prayer) will take place today, at 4:00pm, immediately after Asr prayer, at the National Mosque, Abuja,” the statement read.
Shagari, who was Nigeria’s Second Republic President, died at the National Hospital in Abuja in December 2018.
Shagari’s tenure as president ended on 1 January 1984 following the bloodless coup of the then Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.
He died at the age of 93.