In Shonekan, Nigeria loses a patriot, says Uzodimma
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has mourned the death of an elder statesman and the former head of the defunct Interim National Government, Earnest Shonekan.
Shonekan, who headed the ING of between August 26 and November 17, 1993, breathed his last in Lagos, early Tuesday at the age of 85.
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 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 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”, the statement said.
While noting that his death has created a huge vacuum in Nigeria, and Egbaland, Governor Abiodun prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and that God will comfort his immediate family and the Egba Traditional Council.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said he was in pains over the sad news of the passing of Shonekan.
In a statement by Uzodimma’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, the governor said Shonekan’s death was painful because in it, Nigeria has lost a patriot.
The governor said Shonekan was one of the Nigerian statesmen and legal luminary who believed in the unity, progress and development of the country and actually worked hard in private and public sector for the realisation of that dream.
Governor Uzodimma said Shonekan’s legacy in United African Company of Nigeria will always speak volume and that Nigerians will not forget in a hurry the reason he founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group in 1994, an advocacy body and think tank for private sector-driven development of the Nigerian economy.
He regretted that the country has lost Shonekan, a boardroom icon, when his fatherly and statesmanlike pieces of advice were highly needed.
Governor Uzodimma specifically commiserated with the widow, Margaret, the entire Shonekan family, his friends and the Government and people of Ogun State over the loss.
The Governor, on behalf of his family and the people of Imo State, also condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians over the passing of Shonekan and prayed God Almighty to grant the soul of the deceased a peaceful repose, and to those he left behind to mourn him, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
