Chief Ernest Shonekan who headed the interim government that preceded the General Ibrahim Babangida has died at the age of 85. The cause of death is not known at this time but he was reported to had died in an hospital in Leeki, Lagos State.
Chief Shonekan was a Nigerian lawyer and statesman who served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993. He was titled Abese of Egbaland from 1981 (in addition to a variety of other chieftaincy titles). In the 3 months when he was head of government Shonekan tried but could not succeed in controling the political crisis which ensued following the election annulment. He tried to schedule another presidential election, his government was hampered by a national workers’ strike. Shonekan released political prisoners detained by Babangida. Shonekan’s administration introduced a bill to repeal three major draconian decrees of the military government. Babangida made the interim government weak by placing it under the control of the military.