Breaking: National Loss As Former Nigerian President Dies

• Nigeria on Tuesday, January 11, lost one of its former leaders who was ousted from office by coup, Chief Ernest Shonekan
• The octogenarian died in Lagos state on Tuesday, although his family members are yet to speak on the cause of his death
• Shonekan was the leader of the Interim National Government installed to succeed the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida

Chief Ernest Shonekan, the leader of the defunct Interim National Government set up to succeed General Ibrahim Babangida's regime died in Lagos at the age of 85 on Tuesday, January 11, Punch said.

Shonekan headed the then government between August 26 and November 17, 1993, when he was removed from office in a coup orchestrated by late General Sani Abacha, The Guardian, and The Nation report.

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Meanwhile, the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), an umbrella of 42 Arewa groups, had called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to urgently summon a meeting of elder statesmen with a view to intervening in the country’s woes and proffering solutions.

The group specifically called on Obasanjo to wade into the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that the party remains the only hope of Nigerians.

The national chairman of NYLF, Elliot Afiyo, made the call while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun state on Saturday, August 28, shortly after his meeting with Obasanjo.

Afiyo mentioned other statesmen to include former military heads of state, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd). Former minister of defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), and Shonekan.

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He listed banditry, kidnapping, corruption, poor economy, agitation for secession as part of the challenges bedeviling the country.

He said that it is high time for the elder statesmen to meet and proffer solutions to the challenges before they would consume the nation.

The group said they supported President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 but lamented that the Nigerian leader has failed to address the insecurity issues in the country.

Obasanjo stated that regardless of the happenings in Nigeria, he would continue to work for the unity, peace, security, and progress of the country.

Source: Legit.ng