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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.

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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Commission of inquiry to hold inaugural sitting Monday

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

 

The judicial commission of inquiry on public properties and assets established by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State to probe the previous administration led by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has scheduled its inaugural session for Monday, 29th April 2024.

The commission’s secretary, Salisu Mustapha, said this in a letter addressed to the Director General Media and Publicity on Saturday.

Mustapha specified that the session will take place at High Court No. 3 within the Audu Bako Secretariat on Monday 29th April, 2024 by 10.am prompt.

Earlier this month, Governor Yusuf inaugurated two judicial commissions of inquiry (JCI) to investigate instances of misappropriation of public properties and assets, political violence, and missing persons between 2015 and 2023.

During the inauguration of the JCI members, Governor Yusuf pledged to hold accountable anyone found culpable, emphasizing his commitment to uncovering and prosecuting those responsible for political violence in the state before and during previous elections.

The governor urged the Commission to thoroughly investigate cases of misappropriated public properties and assets during the tenure of immediate past administration.

He instructed the commission members to uphold their integrity, remain true to their oath, and serve the people of Kano State by ensuring justice is served. Governor Yusuf clarified that the initiative was not politically motivated or directed at any individual but rather a response to the mandate of the people of Kano State.

You may recall that Justices of the State High Courts, Farouq Lawan Adamu and Zuwaira Yusuf a long with other eminent personalities were selected and appointed as chairmen and members of the two commissions of inquiry respectively.

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Almajiri Returns Lost Phones Worth Over 2.5 Million Naira

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Haruna Adamu left who found the phones ,right Ibrahim Muhammad Abdullahi the owner

Haruna Adamu, a 37-year-old resident of Kano who recites Quran at Tsangayar Malam Sani, has returned lost phones worth over 2.5 million Naira at Masjidurrahma Mosque in Kano.

The owner of the phones, Ibrahim Muhammad Abu Abdallah, recounted that after prayers, the Muazzin usually cautioned people to take care of their pockets. However, upon checking his pockets after prayers, Abdallah realized his two phones, worth over 2.5 million Naira, were missing. He recalled having visited the mosque’s toilet during that time.

The two phones, both with two terabytes of storage, were essential for Abdallah’s work, and he expressed immense gratitude upon their recovery through Haruna Adamu after forgetting them inside the toilet . He acknowledged that losing the phones could have resulted in a loss of over 20 million Naira due to the valuable data they contained.

The mosque later announced the discovery of the phones, which were found by another worshipperi inside the toilets Mosque , Haruna Adamu , a 37-year-old resident of Tarauni located close to the Mosque. Adamu, who is staying at Tsangayar Malam Sani for Quranic memorization and recitation, returned the phones promptly.

Masjidurrahma is a multi-million Naira Mosque situated along Maiduguri Road,Kano built by renowned businessman AY Maikifi and recently commissioned by Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Saad Abubakar.

The Agony Of The Almajiri System In Northern Nigeria

In appreciation, Abdallah later gifted 100 thousand Naira to Haruna Adamu for his honesty. Adamu resides at Tsangayar Malam Sani, where he recites and memorizes the entire Quran in Tarauni local government area.

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Ace Nigerian Journalist and Parliamentarian Dies at 86, Governor Yusuf Offers Condolences

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Late Sidi Ali

 

The First Republic politician and Second Republic parliamentarian reportedly died in Kano on Thursday evening at 86.

Late Sidi Ali was a prolific writer with National dailies and was one of the Nigerian journalist who covered the civil war.

In his later life, he was a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a member of the party’s Elders Committee in Kano State.

The elder statesman spent years serving the Nigerian International Press Centre, Ministry of Information and National Broadcasting Commission, among other critical institutions.

Born in Kano but raised in Ghana, Ali’s wide travels reportedly influenced his love for journalism and communication.

 

In his 2018 birthday message, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari noted that Ali spent most of his life serving the country as a Public Affairs Officer, “most remarkably for ensuring accurate and balanced information on government activities during and after the Civil War.

 

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has condoled with the families of late Sidi Ali who died Thursday evening at the age of 86.

In a statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described late Sidi Ali as a trusted Public Affairs Officer who worked hard to ensure the flow of true stories during the Civil war.

The Governor also noted the positive contributions of the deceased as a Senator in the Second Republic in shaping the Senate and the overall development of democracy in the country.

On behalf of the Government and people of Kano State, Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir extend condolences to his families, prayed for the repose of his soul, Aljannah be his final resting place, the courage and the fortitude to bear the loss.

 

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