By Salihu Dantata Mahmud
Not many indomie generation knows late Chief Ernest Shonekan former chairman of United African Companies( UAC) and later appointed the head of interim national government after IBB stepped aside.
The late Shonekan worked alongside the late Garba Ja AbdulKadir from Katsina,late AbdulRahman Okene and other.
The two elderly northern icons served as secretaries of Agriculture and interior respectively.
There are many things to remember about the late Shonekan but will mention only few. He was humble, open and loved people. In 2003 at the Congress hall of Transcorp Hilton,where he was attending the money market association of Nigeria conference,I saw him and went to greet him,he received me with honour as if I was his mate without any orderly or security attached to him maybe he left them outside.
We discussed at length and learnt alot from him. I asked him how life was before his days as ING helmsman and after and he answered glory be to Allah that patience, perseverance, contentedness and believe in God made him accept everything in Good faith and took things as they came afterall he never expected someone like him from the private sector to be recognised and appointed as head of the ING and commander in chief. Do we still have such qualities in us? Common councillor is difficult to see today and interact with. We missed reputable elderstatesmen like him. Nigeria shall continue to remember you.
