January 11, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the news of the death of the former Head of the Interim National Government, Ernest Shonekan.
The president, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, extended condolences to Mr Shonekan’s wife, Margaret, loved ones, as well as the government and people of Ogun State.
THEWILL reports that Shonekan died on Tuesday morning in Lagos at the age of 85.
President Buhari affirmed that, as an internationally-respected statesman with courageous wisdom, Shonekan left his ”flourishing business career 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.”
The president noted that the late elder statesman demonstrated to all that the love for country and commitment to her development, peace and unity transcended the trappings of office and the transient nature of political power.
According to him, Nigeria owes a great debt to Shonekan, adding that even at the twilight of his lifetime, he never stopped believing and working for a prosperous and democratic country.
Also, former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness over the news of the passing of Shonekan.
In a condolence message to the family and the Government of Ogun State, signed by his Special Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, on Tuesday, in Abuja, Jonathan described Shonekan as “an elder statesman, well-loved for his sincerity and sense of purpose.”
The former president also described the late Shonekan as a peacemaker and bridge builder who left enduring legacies.
“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.
“Shonekan will also be remembered for his great wisdom, peaceful disposition, the goodwill he extended to all as well as his significant contributions to the growth and economy of the nation”, said Jonathan.
Also, In his condolence message, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said 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 remained enduring.
Atiku said his exit at a time when the country would need his skills and global connections in finding solutions to many of her “intractable challenges” was “quite saddening”.
“My grief is not predicated not just on the demise of the elder statesman, because he died at a prime age.
“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”, he said in a statement which he personally signed.
Atiku also condoled 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.
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