by Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan, James Emejo in Abuja, James Sowole in Abeokuta, Laleye Dipo in Minna, Fidelis David in Akure, and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan, GCFR, CBE, 1936-2022 |
Ernest Shonekan, former head of the interim national government, is dead. Shonekan died in Lagos on Tuesday.
Born on May 9, 1936, Shonekan was a British-trained lawyer
and industrialist.
The Former Head of Interim National Government (ING), Chief
Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan, died yesterday in Lagos
of natural causes, his family said. He was aged 85 years.
A statement by the family, signed by one of his children,
Adeboye Shonekan, said, “To the glory of the Almighty, the Shonekan family
announces the passing of our patriarch, loving husband to Margaret, dutiful
father to us all and former Head of State, Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde
Shonekan, GCFR, CBE, the Baba Sale of Egbaland.
“He passed this morning of natural causes at the age of 85.
The family will release further details in due course.”
President Muhammadu Buhari said he received the news of
Shonekan’s passing with sadness. In a release by his media adviser, Femi
Adesina, on behalf of the federal government, Buhari extended deepest condolences
to Shonekan’s wife, Margaret, loved ones, as well as the government and people
of Ogun State.
The president paid tribute to Shonekan, saying though an
internationally respected statesman, with courageous wisdom, he left his
flourishing business to become the Head of Government at a delicate time, when
the country needed someone of his calm mien and pedigree to save the ship of
state from sinking.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said Shonekan was a
unifying force that helped to bind the country together at a time of great
uncertainty.
Former military president Ibrahim Babangida, who had
appointed Shonekan head of the interim government, extolled his sterling
qualities, saying they qualified him for the tough job.
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Ahmed
Lawan, and All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu, were also among prominent Nigerians who paid tribute to the departed
leader.
Buhari said Shonekan demonstrated to all that his love for
country and commitment to its development, peace, and unity transcended the
trappings of office and the transient nature of political power.
“Buhari believed that Nigeria owes a great debt to Chief
Shonekan, the peacemaker, who even at the twilight of his life time never
stopped believing and working for a prosperous and democratic country,” the
statement said.
The president prayed that the memory of the departed would
remain a blessing to Nigeria even as he finds perfect peace with the Almighty
God.
Buhari Directs National Flag to Fly Half-Mast for Shonekan
The president directed that the national flag should be
flown at half mast from January 12 to 14 as a mark of respect for the former
Head of State. Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss
Mustapha, announced the directive in a statement last night.
Obasanjo: He Was a Unifying Force for Nigeria
Obasanjo, yesterday, described Shonekan, as a unifying force
for the nation.
Obasanjo, who was on an international assignment as the High
Representative of the African Union for the Horn of Africa, said he received
with great shock the news of the death of one of Africa’s illustrious sons. He
declared that Shonekan’s contribution to the growth and development of
democracy in Nigeria could not be forgotten in a hurry.
Obasanjo sent a condolence letter to the wife of the
deceased, Mrs. Margaret Shonekan, copy of which was made available to newsmen
in Abeokuta by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi. In the letter,
the former president said the late business mogul was “a role model and an
epitome of the good in the nation’s business firmament of mixed blessings.
“He would be remembered as a man of sustained strong will to
succeed. Coming from humble background, rising, stepping and peaking at the
topmost plum in corporate management, and the very top of the giant United
Africa Company (UAC) ladder, attest to his sagacity, tenacity and
steadfastness.
“He founded, in 1994, the Economic Summit Group, an advocacy
group and think tank for private sector-led development of the Nigerian
economy, and it remains, till today, sustaining the legacy of helping to
support stakeholders in the execution of policies, programmes and strategies in
response to any emerging trends in national and global economies.”
On the political scene, Obasanjo noted that Shonekan, as
head of the ING in 1993, which was short-lived for three months through the
palace coup orchestrated by General Sani Abacha, “rendered outstanding service
to our country, and we will never forget that.
“It is also worthy of note that as Special Envoy on the
Implementation of the Abuja Agreement on Zimbabwe in 2001 under my
administration as the President of Nigeria; and Chairman, Infrastructure
Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) under Yar’Adua’s administration in
2008, he was forthright, dedicated and showed great patriotism in the discharge
of his duties.
“He was a unifying force for the nation and his contribution
to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria cannot be forgotten in a
hurry. In all situations, he lived nobly and he died in nobility. He was an
achiever.
“Indeed, Chief Shonekan died at a time the country is in
dire need of his leadership, wealth of experience and wisdom to tackle the
multifaceted challenges facing the nation.”
IBB: Why I Made Shonekan Head of Interim Government
Former military president Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, while
mourning the passing of Shonekan, also explained why he appointed him head of
the interim national government, when he stepped aside as military president.
IBB, as Babangida is called, said Shonekan was a man of
ideas and ideals, who was prudent and preached a lot about fiscal discipline.
“It was, therefore, timely for us to appoint him as Head of the Interim
Government to help stabilise the polity at a most trying period of our
country’s political evolution.,” Babangida stated
In a condolence message, Babangida expressed shock over the
news of Shonekan’s death and described him as one of Nigeria’s finest brains
and patriots.
Babangida said, in a statement, “I hadn’t the faintest idea
that Chief Ernest Shonekan would depart this sinful world too soon, even at 85.
He was a man, a leader and an uncommon patriot, who had a presence of mind and
whose understanding of Nigeria was profound and remarkable. It is, indeed, a
personal loss to me.
“Chief Ernest Shonekan was one of our cerebral minds during
our time in government. He was the architect of our principle of free market
economy, which helped to open up the system for a robust participation by the
private sector. The liberalisation of the economy, the investment and boost in
the agricultural sector and budget management approach were part of his
brainchild.
“I recollect very vividly how he used to give us tutorials
on budget, planning and management of national resources, each time he was
invited to our session. At each budget year, Chief Shonekan would be invited to
critique our budget proposals, and gave us further input to enrich the final
budget. He was a man of ideas and ideals. He was prudent and preached so much
about fiscal discipline.
“It was, therefore, timely for us to appoint him as Head of
the Interim Government to help stabilise the polity at a most trying period of
our country’s political evolution. He was a calm personality, whose managerial
skills were foretold in the way and manner he managed a lot of blue chip
companies.
“As Head of the Interim Government, he was able to consult
with a broad spectrum of the Nigerian populace in charting a roadmap out of the
political impasse at that time. His brilliance and meticulous interrogation of
situations helped in large measure to forge ahead during the period.
“I owe a personal gratitude to him throughout his sojourn on
earth as we maintained very robust mutual relationship after his exit from the
corridors of power.”
The former military president added regarding Shonekan,
“Given the achievements we recorded during our time in government in the area
of infrastructure, economy and social rebirth, I owe a word of gratitude to him
for his experienced intervention in helping to dissect our policy frameworks
each time we called upon him to do so.
“He was an engaging personality, whose sense of patriotism
was total. He was friendly and sociable. He understood economy and made so many
projections that helped us to bail the country out of economic conundrum. We
benefited from his immense knowledge, experience and brilliance.”
Jonathan, Atiku, Ayu Mourn, Pay Tributes
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President
Atiku Abubakar, and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, joined other Nigerians to mourn the passing of Chief Ernest
Shonekan.
Jonathan, in a condolence message to his family and the
government of Ogun State, described Shonekan as “an elder statesman, well-loved
for his sincerity and sense of purpose.
“As a leader, Chief Shonekan was well-respected, because of
the enormous goodwill he brought into governance. He was a compassionate and
determined administrator, a peacemaker and bridge builder, who stepped in to
lead the nation at a very difficult time in the history of its political
evolution.
“Before he assumed office as the head of the Interim
National Government in 1993, Chief Shonekan had become a boardroom guru, having
established himself as a foremost industrialist and one of the leaders of the
business world.
“He left enduring legacies, part of which was his
considerable effort towards mainstreaming the private sector in the development
drive of the nation, especially, with the institutionalisation of the Nigerian
Economic Summit Group (NESG), which he founded.”
Jonathan said Shonekan would be remembered for his great
wisdom, peaceful disposition, the goodwill he extended to all, as well as his
significant contributions to the growth of the economy of the nation.
Atiku said, in his own message, “It is with a sad heart that
I received the news of the death of the former Head of State and Chairman of
the defunct Interim National Government, Chief Earnest Shonekan.”
In the statement he personally signed, Atiku stated, “My
grief is predicated, not just on the demise of the elder statesman, because he
died at a prime age,” but on his exit at a time, when the country needed his
skills and global connections find solution to its multifarious challenges.
The former vice president stated, “Either as a politician or
a boardroom guru, Chief Shonekan possessed a unique set skill of bringing
stability to a tumultuous situation. That obviously was the consideration that
made him become Head of the Interim National Government following the crises
that greeted the events after the June 12 presidential election.
“Although his reign as Head of State was interim, Chief
Shonekan’s contribution to the peace and development of Nigeria in those days
and latter years, remains enduring.
“My condolences go to his immediate family, the people and
government of Ogun State and the entire nation for the loss of a man of
industry and intellect, who lived a life of service to the country and
humanity. It is my prayer that God Almighty receives his soul in a peaceful
repose.”
Ayu, while condoling with the federal government, the
government of Ogun State, and the family of the departed corporate giant,
described Shonekan as “a detribalised Nigerian and elder statesman, who gave
Nigeria his best.”
The PDP chairman also said of Shonekan, “His death is a
sunset on an illustrious career that straddled both the corporate sector and
the public service. We are consoled that he lived a fulfilled life, and that
his legacy of public service will outlive him.”
Lawan: He’ll be Remembered for Heeding Nigeria’s Call to
Duty
President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, said
Shonekan would be remembered for heeding the nation’s call to duty at a
critical time.
Lawan, in a statement, condoled with Shonekan’s family and
the government and people of Ogun State over the death of the former Nigerian
leader.
The senate president’s message read, “My condolences go to
the family of Chief Shonekan, the government and people of Ogun State and
entire Nigeria over this great loss. Chief Shonekan was a lawyer, business
captain, boardroom guru and statesman.
“But he will be most remembered for heeding the nation’s
call to duty at a very turbulent period in the history of Nigeria.
“Chief Shonekan’s services as Chairman of the Transitional
Council and later as Head of the Interim National Government were selfless and
contributed greatly to saving the Nigerian ship from hitting the rock”.
Abiodun: His Death is a Colossal Loss
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, described the death of
Shonekan as a huge loss. Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,
Kunle Somorin, lamented that Shonekan, a former chairman of UAC Nigeria Plc.,
passed on at a period Nigeria needed his experience most as a technocrat.
The statement said, “Chief Shonekan was a first-class
administrator, boardroom guru and astute leader, whose imprint in the business
and political firmaments cannot be erased. His commitment to peaceful
resolution and patriotic fervour will live after him.
“Chief Shonekan, an Egba traditional chief (Babasale of
Egbaland), was a true Nigerian, who spent most of his life for the betterment
of the country.”
The governor lamented the huge vacuum created by Shonekan’s
death.
Tinubu: He’d Have Led Nigeria Same Way He Led UAC
National leader of APC, Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said were
the circumstances of his ascension to power different, Shonekan would have led
Nigeria the same way he led the United Africa Company (UAC).
Tinubu, in his condolence message, released by his media
office and signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, commiserated with Ogun State Governor
Dapo Abiodun, Shonekan’s widow, Mrs. Magret Shonekan, and the people of Ogun
State over his passing.
The APC leader stated, “I received with great sadness the
news of the passing of the former Head of the Interim National Government,
Chief Shonekan, at the advanced age of 85. I join his immediate family in
mourning his passing, but also in celebrating his lifelong contributions to our
great nation.
“With his passing, the country has lost another important
elder-statesman; a man of peace, who tried to bring unity and concord during
one of the nation’s most trying moments.
“Chief Ernest was a technocrat and boardroom guru. He
performed excellently as Chairman of United African Company, a vast Nigerian
conglomerate. Indeed, were the circumstances of his ascension to the top
position in our country different, I have little doubt that Chief Shonekan
would have led Nigeria with the same vision and skill with which he guided UAC.
“He had the character, competence, capability and the
technical background to undertake the job. In his brief time as Head of State,
Chief Shonekan tried his best to advance peace, stability and development in
Nigeria.
“Chief Shonekan will be remembered as a peacemaker and Head
of State, who took office at a most difficult time. I commiserate with his
immediate family, most especially, his loving wife, Mrs. Margret, Governor Dapo
Abiodun, and all the people of Ogun State and Nigeria.”
Akeredolu: He was Committed to Nigeria’s Peace, Unity
Chairman of the South-west Governors’ Forum and Ondo State
Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, called Shonekan a nationalist, who was
committed to the nation’s peace and unity. in a statement by his Chief Press
Secretary Richard Olatunde, Akeredolu described Shonekan’s death as a huge loss
to the country, noting that the vast experience of the elder statesman was an
asset to the country, particularly, with the array of challenges confronting
Nigeria.
The governor said Shonekan was committed to the peace and
unity of the country, and pursued it with vigour and dedication as a patriot.
He said the service of the former Head of Interim National Government would
never be forgotten in the country’s history.
Akeredolu stated, “Chief Ernest Shonekan was a nationalist
per excellence. His belief in a united and peaceful Nigeria was unparalleled.
He was dedicated to the progress and development of the county. He will be
sorely missed.
“His historic and patriotic role in maintaining the unity of
the country was one of the many things that endeared him to many. He was,
indeed, an asset; his counsels were useful for national cohesion and progress.”
Wike: Shonekan Boasted Topnotch Administrative Credentials
Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, while mourning the passing
of Shonekan, said his excellent administrative credentials helped in steering
the ship of the country at a very critical time.
In his condolence massage, signed by his Special Assistant
on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, Wike also described Shonekan as a dedicated Nigerian,
who was committed to the peace and stability of the country. He said Shonekan’s
strong credentials as an astute administrator enabled him to steadfastly steer
the country through one of its most turbulent times.
Wike said in the message, “On behalf of the government and
good people of Rivers State, I offer our deepest condolences to the family,
relatives of the former Chairman, Interim National Government and the people of
Nigeria.” The governor said Nigeria had lost an elder statesman whose wisdom,
foresight, and steadfast commitment would always be remembered.
Uzodimma: in Shonekan, Nigeria Lost a Patriot
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, said the death of
Shonekan was painful, stressing that the country has lost a great patriot.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary and Media
Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodimma said Shonekan was one of Nigeria’s
statesmen and legal luminaries, who believed in the unity, progress and
development of the country and actually worked hard in private and public
sectors for the realisation of that dream.
Uzodimma added that Shonekan’s legacy at the United African
Company (UAC) would always speak volumes. He said Nigerians would not forget
his contributions in a hurry.
While regretting that the country had lost a boardroom icon,
when his fatherly and statesman pieces of advice were highly needed, Uzodimma
specifically commiserated with his widow, Mrs Margaret Shonekan, the entire
Shonekan family, his friends, and the government and people of Ogun State over
the loss.
On behalf of his family and the people of Imo State, the
governor also condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians over
Shonekan’s death, and prayed God Almighty to grant the soul of the deceased a
peaceful repose, and those he left behind him, the fortitude to bear the
irreparable loss.
PDP: Shonekan, a Bridge-builder; His Death, a National
Tragedy
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, mourned the
death of Shonekan, describing him as a bridge-builder, and his passing, as a
national tragedy.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo
Shonekan, PDP said Shonekan was a courageous, humble and patriotic leader. The
opposition party said the departed leader was a bridge builder and an
extraordinary statesman, who dedicated his life and made immense sacrifices to
ensure the unity and stability of the country in the heat of the political
crisis that threatened the corporate existence of the country following the
annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The main opposition party said Shonekan was an accomplished
personality and a visionary leader, whose efforts in applying his vast
experience as a consummate lawyer and businessman to reposition the nation,
despite the daunting challenges faced by his three-month regime between August
and November 1993, could not be forgotten.
PDP said, “Chief Shonekan’s commitment to the entrenchment
of democracy was evident in his determination to restore the rule of law and
transparency in governance.
“Even outside office, Chief Shonekan remained committed to
the unity, stability and development of our nation. Our party grieves that he
left the stage at the time the nation needed his wealth of experience and wise
counsel the most.”
PDP commiserated with the federal government, the government
and people of Ogun State, and the Shonekan family, praying God to grant the
nation and the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the huge national loss.
‘He’s One of Last Generation of Pioneer Business Leaders’
Stakeholders in the private sector, yesterday, reacted to
the passage of Chief Earnest Shonekan and described him as one of the last
generation of pioneer business leaders in Nigeria, who contributed immensely to
the growth of the various sectors of the economy.
President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI),
Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, said Shonekan’s demise was a “big loss to the private
sector.
“His was a life well spent; a life of extraordinary
achievements from the boardroom to the highest office in the land.”
Executive Director, Nigeria Private Sector Alliance (NiPSA),
Mr. Nwiabu Legborsi Nuka, said, “Nigeria has lost a leader of repute and
builder of businesses”.
In the same vein, former Director General, ACCI, Dr.
Chijioke Ekechukwu, described Shonekan as an enigma in the corporate world,
having served on the boards of many blue chip companies as chairman.
Ekechukwu said, “Chief Ernest Shonekan was an enigma in the
corporate world, as he served on the boards of many blue chip companies as
Chairman. He distinguished himself as a role model for directors of companies
on what running private sector boards should look like.
“It was on the strength of these leadership qualities that
he was appointed an Interim Head of State in Nigeria. Some of the board
structures set out by him are still in place today. He will be missed by the
corporate world. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.”
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