Tributes flowed, yesterday, as Nigerians mourned the death of former Head of Interim Government in Nigeria, Chief Ernest Shonekan, who passed away in Lagos at the age of 85.
President Muhammadu Buhari also directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast from today till Friday as a mark of respect for the former elder statesman.
Buhari, who received the news with sadness, recalled that the late Shonekan left his flourishing business career to become 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.
He said Nigeria owes a great debt to the peacemaker, who even at the twilight of his life, never stopped believing and working for a prosperous and democratic country.
Former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, whose “stepping aside” gave birth to the Interim Government, said: “Nigeria has lost a patriot, an urbane and refined gentleman, a thoroughbred boardroom maestro and a cosmopolitan mind who was devoted to his country.”
Explaining the lead up to the Interim Government, Babangida said: “It was 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.”
He added: “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.”
Senate President Ahmad Lawan said: “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.
“His 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 rocks.”
On his part, Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila described the death as a painful loss, saying a vacuum has been created among the league of elder statesmen in the country.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo described Shonekan as “a unifying force for the nation” in a condolence letter to wife of the deceased, Mrs. Margaret Shonekan.
“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 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,” Obasanjo said.
Also, former President Goodluck Jonathan described Shonekan as “an elder statesman, well-loved for his sincerity and sense of purpose.” He said:
“He left enduring legacies, part of which was his considerable effort towards mainstreaming the private sector in the development drive of the nation, especially institutionalisation of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), which he founded.
He will 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.”
