Hajiya Sutura Shehu-Shagari, the last surviving wife of Nigeria’s former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, has died at the age of 89.
A statement issued on Monday by the head of the Shagari family, Capt. Muhammad Bala Shagari (retd.), said she passed away at about 3 p.m. after a prolonged illness.
“She was an embodiment of grace, humility, and quiet strength—a devoted mother, grandmother, and matriarch who lived a life defined by dignity and compassion,” the statement said, adding that her death is deeply felt by the Shagari family and all who knew her.
The statement also noted that further details and funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
Hajiya Sutura was the widow of Nigeria’s first democratically elected executive president, Shehu Shagari, who served from 1979 to 1983 under the National Party of Nigeria.
Born on February 25, 1925, in Shagari village in present-day Sokoto State, she lived through Nigeria’s political and social transformations, supporting her husband’s public service and family life.
President Shagari, a former teacher, administrator, and federal minister, focused on housing, education, agriculture, and industrialisation during his administration under the “Green Revolution” policy. His tenure was cut short on December 31, 1983, following a military coup led by then Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.
Alhaji Shehu Shagari passed away on December 28, 2018, at the age of 93.
