Chief Ernest Shonekan is dead – the man whose Interim National Government succeeded IBB’s military junta is dead, Crystal News reports.

Shonekan died at the age of 85 in Lagos on Tuesday, January 11, 2022.

He served as the interim President of Nigeria from August 26 to November 17, 1993, when he was deposed in a coup headed by General Sani Abacha.

He was Chairman of UAC Conglomerate for several years.

Between August 26 until November 17, 1993, Chief Ernest, who was born in Abeokuta, led the temporary Nigerian government.

The coup was staged by the military junta when General Ibrahim Babangida was compelled to ‘step down’ following the unlawful annulment of the June 12 election results.

MKO Abiola, a businessman, won the election with a landslide victory. However, the military forbade him from declaring victory.

On November 17, 1993, the Shonekan government was deposed by General Sani Abacha, the ambitious chief of army staff.