By Lawal Adenike
The death of former Nigerian leader, Chief Ernest Shonekan, in the early hours of Tuesday, has sent shock waves across the nation, throwing Nigerians into mourning.
Shonekan, who died aged 85, etched his name in Nigeria’s history books after heading the Interim National Government that succeeded the military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida.
In a space of 82 days, the Ogun State-born lawyer and business magnate served as Nigeria’s president from August 26, 1993 to November 17, 1993, before he was overthrown by General Sanni Abacha in a palace coup.
In this piece, Blackbox Nigeria highlights 10 things you should know about the late elder statesman.
1. Chief Ernest Shonekan was born on May 9, 1936, in Lagos.
2. He was the son of an Abeokuta-born civil servant — one of six children born into the family.
3. 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.
4. On January 2, 1993, Shonekan assumed office as the head of government affairs under the leadership of the military president Babangida.
5. He headed the Interim National Government that succeeded military regime of Ibrahim Babangida from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993.
6. Shonekan was overthrown in a palace coup led by the then Chief of Army Staff, General Sanni Abacha in November 1993.
7. He founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group in 1994, an advocacy group and think-tank for private sector developed of the Nigerian economy.
8. Prior to his foray into politics, he was the chairman and chief executive of the United African Company of Nigeria, a vast Nigerian conglomerate.
9. Shonekan died on Tuesday, January 11, at Evercare hospital, in the Lekki area of Lagos at the age of 85.
10. He is succeeded by a wife, Magaret Shonekan and they have four children namely, Adeboye, Korede, Kemi and Yele.
