Remembering Ernest Shonekan: Nigeria’s Shortest-lived Leader

"He lived an extraordinary life…. His stabilizing influence on the polity was great." This is how Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, described late Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan in the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, Nigeria, on February 5, 2022. The event was the funeral service of Nigeria’s shortest-lived leader. The body of Chief Shonekan was later laid to rest in Ebony Vaults, Ikoyi, Lagos in a custom-made casket and vault costing at least 38 million Naira (about 52.7 million FCFA), a local paper reported. The former Head of the Interim National Government, ING, died on January 11, 2022 in Lagos aged 85.
Amongst the personalities at the State obsequies were former President Goodluck Jonathan; ex-Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retired); the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha; Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Godwin Obaseki of Edo State
Osinbajo praised Shonekan’s contributions to Nigeria, first as a business guru, and later as Head of Federal Government. He said he deceased believed that national development was achievable if there was a deep collaboration between the public and private sector.
In his sermon, the former Primate and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Anglican Communion, Most. Rev. Peter Akinola, said the late Shonekan put his life on the line for the sake of Nigeria by serving as the Head of the Interim National Government during the turbulent time in the country's political history.
 “He put his life on the line for the sake of this country. Perhaps, we would like to know that Chief Shonekan was not completely unaware that the coup would take place. Shonekan not being a typical ambitious Nigerian politician, he refused to do many things to preserve himself in office. A typical Nigerian politician will do everything possible to continue in office, come rain, come fire,” The Guardian newspaper quoted Most. Rev. Peter Akinola as saying.
Governor Sanwo-Olu on his part said generations of Nigerians would remain appreciative of Shonekan’s courage, sacrifice and stabilising influence on the polity. He said the deceased, in his calm and unflappable manner, steered the course of the country, during his tenure as Head of the ING until the military intervention that followed.
‘We lost a great son of Egbaland. We lost a great authority in company business, corporate governance. We join the family in mo...