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Shonekan: Nigeria’s Leader Overthrown Without Resistance

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Abbas Yushau Yusuf

With the announcement of the death of the first and only Nigeria’s interim leader ,Chief Ernest Shonekan on 11 January 2022 at a Lagos Hospital after a brief illness ,a cross section of Nigerians may not be aware of the peaceful life lived by the Late Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Shonekan will go down memory lane as the first and only interim civilian leader Nigeria had since independence considering the circumstances which he emerge Nigerias leader.

When General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida annulled the June 12 1993 Presidential election won by Late Chief MKO Abiola , General Babangida had no option than to handover power ,the first reason was that since 1990 General Babangida has been shifting goal post ,so when finally Abiola’s election was cancelled by him Nigeria was thrown into serious political turmoil.The political elites were seriously divided and there was crack in the military,there are some military officers that have the notion of maintaining General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida as the commander in chief beyond August 26 1993, the day set for handing over to civilians,while others nursed the idea of violently toppling General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and install Chief MKO Abiola as the President and commander in chief.

Breaking:Former Head Of Interim Govt Chief Ernest Shonekan Is Dead

Since the handover is going to take place on the appointed date and Abiola’s election was annulled, Babangida has no option than to voluntarily handover the reins of government since extension of his tenure will be illegal.

With the seeming crisis General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida settled for the chairman of Nigerias Transition committee Chief Ernest Shonekan.

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To appease south west whose son won the election in a landslide, Shonekan like Chief MKO Abiola is from the South West and Ogun state, therefore handing over to him is the natural thing to do.

On the D-Day , August 26 1993 ,General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in his white robe at the council chambers of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa handed over power to Shonekan in a low key event and went straight to Minna the capital city of Niger state and his home town.

But when Babangida was leaving , Shonekan’s hand was tied as all the members of the interim Government was appointed Babangida including ministers ,and from day one Shonekan started with the crisis of loyalty.

The Secretary of Defence General Sani Abacha was the first military officer to become a full general like the sitting President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida,so in the ensuing political scenario General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida while handing over to Shonekan retired with Military officers who are Junior in Rank to General Sani Abacha and left General Sani Abacha to secure the interim Government.

So when Late Chief Ernest Shonekan settled for another transition to civil rule,issues that seems to render him incompetent in the eyes of Nigerians appeared like fuel Scarcity,Tanker drivers strike and increment in fuel price.

Another blow to Late Chief Ernest Shonekan’s government was the hijack of Nigerian airways plane and taken to Niger Republic,after that a Lagos high court declared his government illegal.

The Late business tycoon also battled with disloyalty among his cabinet as some ministers are not standing to honour him when he enter the council chamber to preside over meetings.

People like Chief MKO Abiola who won the June 12 election and members of NADECO started to agitate for military take over.

The political atmosphere become hazy and on the night of 17 November ,83 days after the assumption of Late Chief Ernest Shonekan as Head of interim National government,the secretary of Defense General Sani Abacha accompanied by Lt.Gen. Aliyu Muhammad Gusau,Lt.Gen Oladipo Diya and others stormed the presidential villa in Abuja.

They condoned the seat of power with battle ready armoured tanks,they were welcomed by Chief Ernest Shonekan to the President’s office,they sat together with Late Chief Shonekan, they reviewed the country’s political situation from the day Shonekan was appointed Head of state and to the day they entered his office.

General Sani Abacha and his colleagues demanded that the Head of the interim National government Chief Ernest Shonekan should resign .

Without hesitation chief Shonekan resigned as Head of the interim National government on November 17 1993 and General Sani Abacha and his fellow coupist offer to take Shonekan to his home town by air which he refused.

Late Chief Ernest Shonekan left for Abeokuta by road on that night and retired to his home peacefully without resisting the offer of resignation by the military led by General Sani Abacha.

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SSANU Threatens Indefinite Strike, Gives FG December 31 Ultimatum

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Comrade Mustafa Ameen SSANU chairman BUK chapter

 

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) BUK chapter said the union has set 31st December as the target date for a nationwide indefinite strike by the union.

The Chairman of SSANU BUK chapter, Comrade Mustafa Aminu, stated this after rising from a meeting of the association held at Bayero University main campus.

Malam Mustafa Aminu told newsmen, including Nigerian Tracker correspondent, that there is need for the Government to invite their members for discussion in order to curtail the planned nationwide industrial action.

According to him, the issue of their 2009 Agreement is yet to be implemented by the Government, which includes 23 percent, 35 percent, and the earned allowances.

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Initially, the Government agreed to give 40 percent for SSANU, but when the money was released, which is 50 billion Naira, the Government decided to give 40 billion Naira to their sister union ASUU and decided to give other unions, including SSANU, the remaining 10 billion Naira to share, which is very unfair and uncalled for, and they are not happy with it, said Mustafa Aminu.

On their grievances, there are many if one checks the 2009 Agreement, which includes autonomy.

Mustafa Amin added that they are calling on the Government to do something, noting that if the target date is reached without calling them, the strike will be total and indefinite.

He said of all the unions in the University, which included ASUU, SSANU, and NASU, only ASUU was called by the Government for discussion.

He said it is like you are having four children in your house and you call the eldest for discussion; definitely the remaining children will not be happy.

He said ASUU has an aggressive nature of pressing home its demand, while SSANU is administrative.

Members of the union, Bayero University chapter, who retired this year were supported with funds ranging from 250 thousand Naira to 150 thousand Naira.

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Anambra State Former Governor, Ngige, Detained By EFCC

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour, and as well former governor of Anambra State, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Fred Chukwuelobe, the ex-Minister’s media aide, confirmed this in an update on Thursday morning.

Chukwuelobe gave the real situation of things while reacting to reports that Ngige, who was governor of Anambra, had been abducted.

“I have been receiving calls in the past hour from friends and journalists seeking the veracity of the news making the rounds that His Excellency, Dr. Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra state and immediate past minister of labour and employment, ‘has been kidnapped, Ngige is with the EFCC. He was not ‘abducted’ or ‘kidnapped’,’” he posted on Facebook.

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It is unclear why the agency detained Ngige as the anti-graft agency is yet to react to the development as of the time of filing this report.

Ngige is the second ex-President Muhammadu Buhari-era minister to be detained by the EFCC in recent times.

Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, is also in custody.

Malami had disclosed that he was being probed over recovery of “Abacha loot”.

“The EFCC informed me that its inquiry relates to an alleged duplication in the recovery of the $310 million Abacha loot, which by accrual of interest rose to about $322.5 million as at the time I eventually succeeded in recovering the funds for the federal Government and, flowing from that assumption, two allegations were majorly raised, namely; abuse of office, and Money laundering,” he had said in a statement.

He, however, described the allegations as baseless, illogical and wholly devoid of substance, saying they would collapse, when subjected to facts and elementary logic.

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Governor Yusuf Approves Appointment of Prof. Amina Bayero as VC, Northwest University

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Kano State Governor, Governor Yusuf Approves Appointment of Prof. Amina Bayero as VC, Northwest University Abba Kabir Yusuf, has confirmed the appointment of Professor Amina Salihi Bayero as the substantive Vice Chancellor of Northwest University for a five-year tenure beginning Monday, 1st December, 2025.

This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday.

The approval follows a recommendation by the University Council after a rigorous selection process.

Governor Yusuf, as Visitor to the University, commended the Council Chairman and members for their dedication to merit and integrity throughout the exercise.

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He also requested prayers for Allah’s guidance upon the new Vice Chancellor as she assumes the responsibilities of her office.

Prof. Amina Salihi Bayero is a distinguished scholar of Analytical Chemistry and the first female PhD holder in Chemistry from Bayero University Kano.

She has served in several academic and administrative capacities, including Head of Department, Dean of the Faculty of Science, and Deputy Vice Chancellor at Yusuf Maitama Sule University.

She is widely respected for her research contributions, leadership qualities, and commitment to mentoring young scientists.

Her appointment is expected to strengthen academic excellence and promote greater gender inclusion in higher education across Kano State.

 

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