The newly appointed Chairman, Board of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) by President Muhammadu Buhari, John Nanzip Shagaya is dead.
Senator John Nanzip Shagaya in an auto crash
The former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria died on Sunday in a ghastly motor accident at Amper, along Langtang Road, Plateau State.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has offered his condolence to the family of the late senator in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina… “President Buhari offers his heartfelt condolences to the Shagaya family, friends, the Government and people of Plateau State on the painful passing of their illustrious son.”
“The President pays tribute to the great Nigerian whose legacies will live on in the patriotic work he did as a military officer, who rose to the position of a General, and a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic that ably represented the Plateau Southern zone.”
“The President affirms that at each step of his distinguished career in national service and politics, General Shagaya brought his deep convictions and discipline to national, regional and community assignments and was ready to always offer his best to the development and stability of the country.”
“President Buhari prays that God Almighty will comfort all who mourn him and grant his soul eternal rest.”
For those who don’t know, John Nanzip Shagaya was born on September 2, 1942, to Mallam Sikji Miri Wazhi and Mrs. Maryamu Zwancit.
He attended Junior Primary School at Nyer and Sudan United Mission Primary School, Langtang (1952–1959) later proceeded to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria 1960-1964. After he graduated, he was posted to the Nigerian Army Corps and later got posted to 3 Marine Commando in 1967 after being commissioned Second Lieutenant.
Shagaya was at various times Minister of Internal Affairs; member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) and member of the Police Council under the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He also served as chairman of the committee set up in 1987 to decide on Nigeria’s membership of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Shagaya was one of the drafters of the main protocols for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). As a member of the National Boundary Commission, he helped to resolve disputes with Benin and Chad.
He was later appointed Field Commander of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Peacekeeping Force in Liberia in September 1993, relieving Major General Adetunji Olurin.
Shagaya ran for re-election in April 2011 on the Labour Party (LP) platform but was defeated by Senator Victor Lar of the PDP after his election as senator, representing Plateau South in April 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was challenged and nullified by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, a decision overturned in December 2008 by the Jos Division of the Court of Appeal.