Former Nigerian Interim Govt. Leader, Earnest Shonekan, Dies At 85

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Daily Rendezvous
Chief Ernest Adegunle Shonekan who headed the Interim National Government that succeeded the junta of General Ibrahim Babangida, has died.

Shonekan died in Lagos at the age of 85.
He was the interim head of the Nigerian Government between August 26 and November 17 1993 when he was ousted in a coup led by late General Sani Abacha.

Born on 9 May 1936 in Lagos, Shonekan was educated at CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College. He received a law degree from the University of London, and was called to the bar. He later attended Harvard Business School.

He joined the United Africa Company of Nigeria in 1964, at the time a subsidiary of the United Africa Company and rose through the ranks in the company and was promoted assistant legal adviser. He later became a deputy adviser and joined the board of directors at the age of 40. He was made chairman and managing director in 1980, and went on to cultivate a wide array of international business and political connections.

On 2 January 1993, Shonekan assumed office simultaneously as head of transitional council and head of government under Ibrahim Babangida. At the time, the transitional council designed to be the final phase leading to a scheduled hand over to an elected democratic leader of the Third Nigerian Republic.

Shonekan learned of the dire condition of government finances, which he was unable to correct. The government was hard pressed on international debt obligations and had to hold constant talks for debt rescheduling.

In August 1993, Babangida resigned from office, following the annulment of the 12 June elections. He signed a decree establishing the Interim National Government led by Shonekan who was subsequently sworn-in as head of state.

Unable to control the political crisis that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election won by late Nashorun Moshood Abiola, Shonekan was overthrown by late General Sami Abacha just three months into his tenure.

In 1994, he founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group an advocacy group and think-tank for private sector-led development of the Nigerian economy.

In his later years he was widely known as an elder statesman and was member of the National Council of State.


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