Chief Ernest Shonekan, a former Head of the Nigerian Interim National Government is dead. He died in Lagos at the age of 85.
His death was confirmed by the family in a phone call with THISDAY on Tuesday morning.
Chief Shonekan served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from August 26, 1993, to November 17, 1993, when a military coup led by General Sani Abacha ended his interim government.
Chief Shonekan came into government at the highest level on January 2, 1993, when the then Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida , appointed him as the Head of the Transitional Council and Head of Government as part of the final phase of the process leading to the end of military rule and installation of a democratically elected President for the Third Republic.
He later became the interim Head of State(Hwad of Interim National Government) after Military President Babangida ‘stepped aside’ from office on August 26, 1993 following the crisis that trailed the annulment of the June 12 presidential election, won by Chief MKO Abiola.
His government could however, not hold another presidential election owing to workers’ strike and unending protests particularly in the South-West, before it was overthrown by the militaryb junta of Late Genaral Sani Abacha.
Chief Shonekan was born My 9, 1936. He held the traditional title of Abese of Egbaland, among other chiefaincy titltes. He attended CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College. He received a law degree from the University of London and was called to the bar
Before his political career, Shonekan was chairman and chief Executive of the United African Company(UAC) he’s survived by his wife, Margaret and children.