Ernest Shonekan: Life and Times of a Worthy Statesman
By Kabir Akintayo
He was a complete gentleman who was loyal to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the end. He served the private sector dutifully in his younger days and served Nigeria effectively till his dying days.
He was a lawyer and a statesman par excellence. He belonged to everyone and belonged to no one. As an elder statesman, he avoided petty politics and supported all Presidents to succeed, irrespective of the party in power and the part of the country the President comes from.
At a time Nigeria needed an open-minded stabilizing force to steady the ship of state, he left his thriving private sector career and made himself available for the clarion call, and saved his beloved country from collapse.
Ernest Adegunle Oladehinde Shonekan was born in Lagos on the 9th of May, 1936. The son of an Abeokuta-born civil servant, the young Ernest attended CMS Grammar School, Lagos state and later finished his secondary education at the equally prestigious Igbobi College, also in Lagos.
He obtained a degree in Law at the University of London. After his call to Bar, he attended the famous Havard Business School to expand his horizon and prepare himself for the excellent career he later had in the private sector.
Shonekan joined the United Africa Company of Nigeria (UAC) in 1964, the company at the time played a role in the British colonization of Africa.
He rose through the ranks in the company and was promoted to assistant legal adviser. He later became a deputy adviser and joined the board of directors at the age of 40. He was made chairman and managing director in 1980, and went on to cultivate a wide array of international business and political connections.
He served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993. His leadeship was cut short by a palace coup led by Late General Sani Abacha.
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In August 1993, after Babangida resigned from office, following the annulment of the 12 June elections. He appointed Shonekan as the Head of Interim National Government “ING”.
Already, Shonekan had assumed office simultaneously as head of transitional council and head of government under Babangida in January 1993. At that time, the transitional council was designed to be the final phase leading to a scheduled hand over to an elected democratic leader of the third Republic.
As ING leader, Shonekan later learned of the dire condition of government finances, which he was unable to correct.
The government was hard-pressed on international debt obligations and had to hold constant talks for debt rescheduling.
During his short tenure, he tried to organize another presidential election and return to democratic rule but could not see out the dream.
He faced challenges ranging from workers’ strike and economic sanctions on Nigeria which caused inflation and worsened the country’s economic situation.
Shonekan’s regime was however weakened by Babangida at that time. General Abacha who was the Chief of Army Staff and also the Minister of Defence was in total control of the military.
Moreover, Shonekan tried to withdraw Nigerian troops from ECOMOG operation in a peacekeeping mission in Liberia.
After his exit from office, Shonekan formed an advocacy group called Nigeria Economy Summit Group (NESG), a think tank for private sector led development of Nigerian economy.
Shonekan, GCFR, died on the 11th of January, 2022 at the age of 85.
Before his death, despite the frailty of body and mind, Shonekan made sure he never missed the periodic Council of State meeting in the State House. The President of Nigeria often summon the Council, made up of former Heads of State and Presidents, current governors, current Senate President and some few ministers, each time he needs their guidance and counsel on raging national issues.
He was a thorough-bred professional and private sector guru, a great leader and patriotic Nigerian.
