By joshua 
Ayo Ola
A former President of Nigeria, Dr, Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, described a former Head of the defunct Interim National Government, (ING) Chief Ernest Shonekan, who died Tuesday at the age of 85, as a compassionate and determined administrator, a peacemaker and bridge-builder, who stepped in to lead the nation at a very difficult time in the history of its political evolution.
He also expressed sadness over the passing on of Shonekan.
In a condolence message to his family and the Government of Ogun State, Dr. Jonathan also described the late ex-ING Head as “an elder statesman, well-loved for his sincerity and sense of purpose.”
Jonathan said: “As a leader, Chief Shonekan was well respected because of the enormous goodwill he brought into governance. He was a compassionate and determined administrator, a peacemaker and bridge-builder who stepped in to lead the nation at a very difficult time in the history of its political evolution.
“Before he assumed office as the head of the Interim National Government in 1993, Chief Shonekan had become a boardroom guru, having established himself as a foremost industrialist and one of the leaders of the business world.
“He left enduring legacies, part of which was his considerable effort towards mainstreaming the private sector in the development drive of the nation, especially with the institutionalisation of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), which he founded.
“He will be remembered for his great wisdom, peaceful disposition, the goodwill he extended to all as well as his significant contributions to the growth of the economy of the nation.”