The Chief of Army staff, General Yusuf Buratai has paid a condolence visit to the Sama Road, the private house of the late former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari who died recently in the National Hospital in Abuja and was buried in his village in Shagari town.

The Army Chief who was in Sokoto on Monday ahead of the official launching of Operation python dance  III in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State on Tuesday.

Speaking at the late Shagari house, the army chief describes Shagari as a leader who serves his country diligently, while extols him for his contribution to the armed forces as the president of Nigeria.

The COAS, recalled that he was in the academy when Shagari was the president and described the standard of training and equipment he bequeathed the military as of high standard.

” I think he has done greatly to ensure that our country is safe, as well as any challenge to our territorial integrity was addressed squarely.

” You can see how he tackle the challenges we had in our Lake Chad border then.

” He contributes a lot to the development of the Nigerian armed forces and maintaining our integrity in defending our country from external migration, that is what he will definitely be remembered for, may his soul rest in peace” he stated.

While responding, the eldest son to the late Shagari, Col. Bala Shagari thanks the COAS for the visit. He reminded the entourage that he was prematurely retired from the Army as a Colonel in February 1984.

Bala described his late father as a good man even in death, saying so far nobody has said anything contrary to that since he ( Shagari) passed away.

Meanwhile, the COAS has assured officers and men of the Eight division that President Muhammadu Buhari is taking their welfare as a priority, including the sustaining of subsidizing payment of school fees of their children.

He reminded the officers that he was in the Eight division to officially launch operation python dance III in the area. Buratai, however, encourages his men to ensure that they displayed a high percentage of discipline during the programme.

Buratai also admonished his men to ensure the safety of all Nigerian citizens from bandits as well as some violent hedrsmen within the country territory.

The General Officer Commander, GOC of the Eight division, Major General S. O. Olabanji later took the COAS to some of the facilities of the army in the state. It includes the  Army general hospital, the facilities at both the Gingigiya barracks as well as the headquarters of the division based in Kalambina area of the state.

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