Osinbajo, Jonathan, Governors present as Chief Shonekan laid to rest in Lagos
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By OLALEKAN AYENI – The remains of former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Adegunle Shonekan, has finally laid to rest.
Dignitaries across the federation including Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; former Military Head of state, Yakubu Gowon, his wife, Victoria; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu gathered around 11am of yesterday – Saturday, February 5, 2022, at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, for his funeral rites.
Other guests at the event included Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; his counterpart in Edo, Godwin Obaseki; former Ogun Governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel and captain of all industries.
Chief Shonekan passed on at the age of 85 at Evercare Hospital, in Lekki, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, where he had been receiving medical treatment.
Men of Nigeria Police, Military personnel, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), Department of State Security (DSS) were seen in numbers ensuring safety and security of guests at the late elder statesman’s funeral service.
81 Division of Nigerian Army, it was gathered gave 21-artillery gun salute in his honour at Ebony Vault and Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Late Chief Shonekan was the Abese of Egbaland till his last day on earth.
He was the interim head of the Nigerian Government between August 26 and November 17, 1993, when he was ousted in a coup led by the late General Sani Abacha.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, while speaking at the event, disclosed that the late elder statesman founded Nigerian Economic Summit Group, an advocacy group and think-tank for private sector-led development of the Nigerian economy after he was overthrown through a palace coup,
He was a British-trained lawyer, industrialist, and former Chief Executive of the United African Company of Nigeria Plc (UAC) before he was appointed as Interim President of Nigeria by General Ibrahim Babangida in 1993.
He was born on May 9, 1936, in Lagos into the family of an Abeokuta-born civil servant. He was educated at CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College.
