Former Nigerian Leader and interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan has died at the Lekki Hospital Lagos. He died at the age of 85.
The Big Picture.
Chief Ernest Shonekan was the Head of State from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993. His administration took over General Ibrahim Babaginda and was succeeded by Sani Abacha.
In his brief rule as head of state, Chief Shonekan freed all political prisoners imprisoned by his predecessor, General Babaginda. But the coup of General Sani Abacha, his Minister of Defence, cut his reign short.
Before his death, Chief Ernest Shonekan was the third oldest living Nigerian Head of State, after Queen Elizabeth II and General Yakubu Godwin. At the time of this report, the cause of death was unknown.