If June 12 and its aftermath remains a brackish chasm in the ocean of Nigerian history, then Ernest Shonekan is widely accepted as the man who brought stability in a time of great political uncertainty.

A glance at the short but illustrious Nigerian Leaders Gallery will show leaders in military attire, alongside a handful of men in traditional starched attire. But at the center of these two groups of rulers is the solemn-looking Shonekan, who held power, even briefly, after Ibrahim Babangida, the former head of state, “stepped down” after the ruling. ‘cancellation of June 12.

Shonekan died Tuesday at the age of 85 and with the tributes that have continued to pour in in his honor, his brief stint at the helm of the country’s affairs leads the conversations around what many call a life well lived.

Beyond his transitional regime as Nigeria’s interim head of state, Shonekan was a British-trained lawyer and industrialist who ran large Nigerian conglomerates. He founded te Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), a private sector-led think tank and policy advocacy group that promotes sustainable growth and economic development.

FROM LAGOS TO BRITTANY

Shonekan was born on May 9, 1936 in Lagos to a civil servant father from Abeokuta. He did his previous studies at CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College before obtaining a law degree from the University of London. He then attended Harvard Business School.

In 1964, Shonekan was employed by the United Africa Company of Nigeria, then a subsidiary of the United Africa Company, whose reputation dates back to British colonial times. A rapid rise in the ranks allowed him to reach the board of directors at the age of 40. He became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1980. He received the title of Abesis d’Egbaland in 1981.

ROLE IN THE JUNE 12 CRISIS

On January 2, 1993, Babangida appointed Shonekan to head the transitional council which was established to be the first step in the eventual transfer from military rule to a civilian government which should have emerged from the presidential election later in the year. .

However, June 12, 1993 arrived and the elections passed and Babangida annulled the results after Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) allegedly took a significant lead over his opponent, Bashir Tofa of the Republican National Convention (NRC). . A crisis ensued with Abiola and his supporters pushing for a declaration of victory.

Babangida, instead, withdrew on August 27, 1993, but not before signing a decree establishing the interim national government, which saw Shonekan become the interim head of state.

EIGHTY-THREE OFFICE DAYS

Shonekan became the Nigerian head of state with the shortest term after being ousted by Sani Abacha, his defense minister, on November 17, 1993. He only spent 83 days as head of the Nigerian government. His interim government was, however, largely unpopular with the people despite the appointment of Abiola as his vice president.

Under his brief leadership, the strident economic policies of his predecessor began to deteriorate, which many linked to the uncertain political terrain following the June 12 cancellation.

Before settling down and building a structure to create an impact, he was deposed in a coup led by Abacha.

In his resignation speech on November 17, 1993, Shonekan said that the national government under his leadership “has gone to great lengths to bring credit to the government” and has taken steps to combat corruption and indiscipline.

OUT OF OFFICE AND IN NESG

After stepping down in 1993, thanks to the relationships with the private sector he established during his years at UAC, he founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

The private sector think tank worked with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to help promote economic cooperation between local authorities and businesses in the search for job creation.

In 2019, the group signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Universities Commission (NUC) for collaboration between universities and industry to revitalize Nigeria’s higher education system.

THE NATIONALIST WHO BELIEVED YOUNG PEOPLE CAN TRANSFORM NIGERIA

Aside from other positions he has held, most notably as chairman of the Commission for the Regulation of Infrastructure Concessions (ICRC), Shonekan has not mince words about his belief in Nigeria’s potential for greatness.

Speaking at the celebration of Democracy Day in May 2014, he expressed his optimism about Nigeria’s “bright future”, which he said could be achieved by promoting peace and supporting the people. young people.

“I believe the future will be bright if there is peace. Without peace, there can be no progress in the country. So, we must have peace in the country. And if we are to have peace, each of us must contribute to it with our quota, ”he declared.

“So I appeal to everyone to sheathe their swords and focus on growing the economy and creating jobs for the teeming population.

“I’m glad we were thinking in terms of young people because young people make up about 50 percent of the total population right now, that’s a lot.

“So we have to create jobs; we have to make them happy. If we can get each of them to do a little bit to contribute to the economy, this country will be a better place and it will be very difficult for any country to beat Nigeria.

From former rulers to lawmakers and politicians, one message is shining through about how Shonekan will be remembered: stability.

While President Muhammadu Buhari described Shonekan as “a peacemaker” who led Nigeria through “a delicate time when the country needed someone with calm demeanor and pedigree to save the ship from The State of the Shipwreck ”, for former President Goodluck Jonathan, he was“ a bridge builder who stepped in to lead at a very difficult time ”.