Abiodun, Bankole Mourn Late Ernest Shonekan

Late Shonekan

ABEOKUTA - Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state has mourned the death of the former Head of the defunct Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Shonekan, who headed the ING between August 26 and November 17, 1993, died on Tuesday at 85 in Lagos hospital.

Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, described the death of the Egba- born British-trained lawyer, industrialist and traditional chief, as a colossal loss to Nigeria in general and Ogun State in particular.

He expressed grief that Chief Shonekan, former chairman of the UAC Nigeria Plc, passed on at a period Nigeria needed his experience most as a technocrat.

“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 a 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,” he lamented.

Similarly, an Egba High Chief and father of Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Alani Bankole described the death of late elder statesman as a tragic loss.

Bankole said the Shonekan would be greatly missed by the Egba Christian community and the UK Christian family.

Shonekan’s Abeokuta residence calm after his demise

Meanwhile, there was calm at the Abeokuta country home of former Head of Interim National Government (ING) Chief Ernest Shonekan on Tuesday hours after his death was announced.

The Ogun High Chief died on Tuesday morning at Evercare hospital in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

The residence, which is situated beside the popular NUJ Press Centre, Iwe-Irohin House, in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, retains its pervasive serene and forlorn ambiance when our reporter peered into it.

The Shonekan-led ING succeeded the General Ibrahim Babangida military government and the short-lived government lasted between August 26 and November 17, 1993, before he was overthrown in a bloodless coup led by late General Sani Abacha.

When our reporter visited his family houses at Erunwon and Itoko in Abeokuta South local government respectively, the two residences have been deserted by family members except few tenants who declined to speak with our Correspondent as they don't have tangible information about the late Abese of Egbaland.

A childhood friend of the late Shonekan at Erunwon, Mr. Fatai Adio Badmus said although, the late Nigerian leader does not spend much time in Abeokuta during his infant days, but described him as an easy-going and humble person any time he was in Abeokuta for holiday.

"He's a good man during his growing up in Abeokuta. Although, I can't say much about his educational background because he doesn't stay much in Abeokuta. He only visited the town when on holiday and during that visitation, he was an easy-going person and related very well with everyone in the community."