January 11, (THEWILL) –Â Former Military President Ibrahim B. Babangida and Former President Olusegun Obasanjo have expressed sadness over the passing of Chief Ernest Shonekan.
THEWILL reports both Babangida and Obasanjo described Chief Shonekan as a great achiever in separate letters of condolence to the family of the deceased.
Shonekan was the Head of the Interim National Government between August 26 and November 17, 1993.
In his letter, Obasanjo described the late elder statesman as a role model who would be remembered as a man of sustained strong will to succeed.
Obasanjo, in the condolence letter addressed to Mrs Margaret Shonekan, the deceased wife, said he received the news with shock.
He recalled how Shonekan in 1994, founded the Economic Summit Group, an advocacy group and think – tank for private sector-led development of the Nigerian economy.
Obasanjo noted that the body had continued to sustain 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.
The former president noted that at the hour of great achievement and undisguised success, Chief Shonekan did not lose the common touch and sense of service to family and his wider community.
“On the political scene, Chief Shonekan, as the Head of the Interim National Government in Nigeria, in 1993, though short-lived for the period of 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 and Chairman, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) 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 when the country was in dire need of his leadership, wealth of experience and wisdom to tackle the multifaceted challenges facing the nation.
“While expressing, on behalf of my family and on my own behalf, our sympathies to you and the entire members of your family as well as to the government and the good people of Ogun State, it is our prayer that the Almighty God will grant him eternal rest and comfort all those he left behind”, the letter read.
Meanwhile, in a statement on Tuesday, Babangida described Shonekan as a man, a leader and an uncommon patriot who had a presence of mind and whose understanding of Nigeria was profound and remarkable.
The statement reads: “The shocking news of the death of one of Nigeria’s finest brains and patriots came to me this morning with a helpless awe. 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 give 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 a very robust mutual relationship after his exit from the corridors of power.
“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 the 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.
“May the Almighty God console his family and other Nigerians who had a relationship with this gentle giant of quintessential orientation. May God grant his soul eternal rest. Nigeria has lost a patriot, an urbane and refined gentleman, a thoroughbred boardroom maestro and a cosmopolitan mind who was devoted to his country. Rest in peace Chief Ernest Shonekan. May God grant the family, associates and friends the fortitude to bear with this priceless loss.”
