Year in Review: Five popular statesmen who died in 2022

Death is inevitable. It is a natural end to human existence and despite the inevitability and pain often associated with it, man has most times come to terms with it.

Politicians rule the space and in the Nigerian political structure, once in office, a change comes every four years.

This piece seeks to examine five political figures who died before the year 2022.

1. Chief Arthur Nzeribe

Chief Arthur Nzeribe was an Oguta, Imo State-born political maverick who dazzled Nigeria for many years was born on November 2, 1938.

During his lifetime, he was a darling to both political and military establishments.

Being a popular figure, he was loved by a few and loathed by many.

He was a constant and visible face within the political landscape of Nigeria, especially during the military presidency of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

During the political transition programs guided by the military presidency of Babangida, Nzeribe played an underground role and came out the Association for a Better Nigeria (ABN) which instituted a legal action against the 1993 presidential election.

The 1993 presidential election pitched Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NEC).

After the 1993 election annulment, Nzeribe went underground, which even further fueled the conspiracy theory that he was used by the military to truncate their own transition programme.

On the return to democratic government in 1999, Arthur Nzeribe pitched his tent with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and became a Senator representing Imo Orlu Senatorial District.

On May 8, 2022, Senator Arthur Francis Nzeribe died from an undisclosed ailment in a foreign hospital.

2. Chief Ernest Shonekan

Chief Ernest Shonekan was a business mogul saddled with the responsibility of leading Nigeria between August to November 1993.

Shonekan did not set out to be a politician as he was already established in the business world atop one of Nigeria's successful conglomerates.

He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Africa Company (UAC).

He was born on May 9, 1936, and he was a lawyer and statesman.

Shonekan is an alumnus of the University of London and the Harvard Business School.

He was also educated at both the prestigious CMS School and Igbobi College, Lagos.

In January 1993, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Nigeria's military president installed him as Head of the Transition Council and Head of Government.

The Transition Council at the time was tasked with handing over power to a democratically elected government after the 1993 general elections.

But with the annulment of the elections and the resignation of General Babangida, Shonekan was sworn in as Head of State and head of the Interim National Government in August 1993.

The Interim National Government struggled to survive and in November 1993, he was toppled by the Defence Secretary, General Sabi Abacha in a palace coup.

Out of political office, Chief Shonekan still featured prominently as an elder statesman and in Nigeria's economic sphere and he founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group which is an advocacy group and think-tank for private sector-led development of the Nigerian economy.

Chief Ernest Shonekan who is an Abeokuta indigene died on January 11, 2022 at the age of 85 years

3. Chief Vincent Ogbulafor

Chief Vincent Ogbulafor from Abia State was a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the first National Secretary of the party.

He was forced to resign as PDP National Chairman after he fell out with some party bigwigs.

Ogbulafor was accused of corruption and financial recklessness during his time as a Minister.

He reportedly died at the age of 73 in a Canadian hospital on October 6, 2022.

He was born on May 24, 1949.

4. Alhaji Bashir Tofa

Alhaji Bashir Tofa, a Kano born Kanuri was born on June 20, 1947.

Toga was the presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC) during the 1993 presidential election which was eventually annulled by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Nigeria's military president.

He was defeated by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

He was a businessman, an industrialist and an oil trader.

After his defeat and the controversial annulment of the 1993 presidential election result, Tofa went underground politically and never held or contested any political position.

He died on January 3, 2022 at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano at the age of 74 years.

5. Mohammed Barkindo

Mohammed Barkindo was born on April 20, 1959 in Yola, Nigeria. He was a diplomat and until the time of his death was the Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and was serving for the second term having been first appointed in 2016 and reappointed for a second term in 2019.

Barkindo, however, turned down offers of an extended term, so Haitham al-Ghais of Kuwait was chosen by acclamation as his successor.

He planned to become a distinguished fellow at the Global Energy Center of the Atlantic Council upon completing his term as Secretary-General on July 31, 2022.

He, however, died in Abuja on July 5, 2022, at the age of 63.

His death was announced by the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari.