Shonekan

Ernest Adekunle Shonekan was a Nigerian lawyer and statesman who served as the interim president of Nigeria from August 26, 1993, to November 17, 1993. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on May 9, 1936. Shonekan studied law at the University of London and was called to the Bar in Nigeria in 1964. He had a distinguished career in law and business before entering politics.

Shonekan was appointed chairman and chief executive of the United Africa Company of Nigeria (UACN) in 1980. He was also a prominent figure in the Nigerian industrial sector. In 1993, amidst a political crisis following the annulment of the June 12 presidential election, Shonekan was installed as the interim head of state by the military junta led by General Ibrahim Babangida. His appointment was intended to pave the way for a new election and a return to civilian rule.

However, Shonekan's interim government was short-lived. He was overthrown in a coup d'état on November 17, 1993, by General Sani Abacha, who then became the head of state. Following his removal from power, Shonekan largely retreated from public life. He remained a respected elder statesman and was involved in various private sector initiatives and national dialogues. Ernest Shonekan passed away on January 11, 2022, at the age of 85. His tenure, though brief, marked a significant period in Nigeria's complex political history.