By Dapo Akinrefon

The oldest son of former President Shehu Shagari, Captain Bala Shagari (retd), has warned leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) to stop using his father’s name in the campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan.

While he said the party should allow the former president enjoy his retirement, he declared that Shagari has not endorsed any presidential candidate‎ for next month’s presidential election.

In a statement, Bala Shagari, lamented the manner in which his father is been dragged into partisan politics, “which brings needless distractions into his private life in retirement.” 

Shagari, who is the District Head of Shagari town in Sokoto State, noted that while his father would continue to pray for the peace, unity and stability of Nigeria, “it is wrong for any political party or group of politicians to use his name in their endorsement campaign without his permission to advance their own interests.”

According to him, the Second Republic president “has not endorsed anybody for the February 2015 Presidential election, and that he remains politically neutral.”

He stated that as a father figure, his father’s role is to pray for peace, unity and stability of Nigeria.

He, however, said that any endorsement of candidate or candidates of any party might compromise the neutrality and integrity of the former president. He advised politicians to avoid politics of bitterness, division, intolerance and violence.