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.
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.
