Sen. Gbemi Raji Rasaki, Chairman Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, has called on the Federal Government to name the National Assembly Complex as Shehu Shagari National Assembly Complex.
The federal lawmaker, in a release said: “The late former President deserves his name to be permanently affixed in a prominent national monument in Abuja not in any local place or region for his immeasurable contributions to development of democracy in Nigeria.”
Senator Raji Rasaki pointed out “We should not forget in a hurry the contribution of Alhaji Shehu Shagari to the metamorphosis of Abuja from a mere Master- Plan project of the late Murtala Muhammed to a grand reality of being the official and functional Federal capital territory.
“We should also not forget in a hurry how the Alhaji Shagari empowered his Vice-president, the late Architect Alex Ekuweme to see to the strict and precise construction of Abuja according to the Master Plan “
” Alhaji Shagari as the President recorded the hosting of the first national celebration in Abuja before his tenure was terminated?”
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She said it will “Be a sin against the nation, posterity, altruistic service and even the spirit of the late ex-President, if we could not find a notable monument in Abuja to name after the first President who held the first national celebration in Abuja, who ensured the building of a firm foundation of Abuja and who formally made Abuja a functional Federal Capital of Nigeria “
Sen. Fatimat Raji Rasaki, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial district, however, described the death of the former President as “the passage of an Ekiti man in spirit who throughout his tenure as the President of Nigeria under the banner of National party of Nigeria (NPN), identified with the aspirations of Ekiti part of the old Ondo State and maintained a close relationship with prominent and distinguished Ekiti sons and daughters.
“He was an Ekiti man in spirit. This he showed and displayed by not only associating with prominent Ekiti sons and daughters, but associated with their aspirations by ensuring the allocation of enduring projects in Ekiti part of the old Ondo State.
“He loved Ekiti people. Yes, I remember that it was during his tenure that the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti which he initially wanted to make a University but politicised was weaned through the relationship between him, late Chief Michael Afolabi Obayemi, Late Chief Claudius Agboola Bamigboye and Chief Afe Babalola.”
