Ali Monguno is Dead

By Michael Olugbode

The Borno State Government has announced the death of Alhaji Shettima Ali-Monguno, a former Minister of Mines, Power and Petroleum in the first republic.

Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Maiduguri.

He said the elder statesman died on Friday evening at his Government Reservation Area (GRA) residence in Maiduguri.

The statement reads in part: “It is with a deep sense of loss and profound sadness that we announce, on behalf of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Borno State and the Borno State Government, the passage of our father and distinguished statesman, Alhaji (Dr.) Shettima Ali Monguno.”

Shettima was born in 1926 in Monguno town of Borno state. He attended Monguno Primary School, Teachers Training College (TTC), Bauchi and Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology (KCACT), Zaria, Moray House college of Education and the University of Edinburgh.

He served as a parliamentarian in the First Republic and was appointed the Minister of Air Force and Internal Affairs between 1965 and 1966. He was a Federal Commissioner for Trade and Industries between 1966 and 1971 and Minister for Mines and Power, Petroleum and Energy from 1972 to 1975.

Monguno also served as President of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) from 1972 to 1973.