Former interim president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Chief Ernest Shonekan GCFR passed away on Tuesday.
Shonekan would be remembered for succeeding the junta of General Ibrahim Babangida as the head of the Interim National Government.
As Nigerians mourn the elder statesman, WuzupNigeria brings you ten moments in his lifetime:
The late Chief Shonekan was born to an Abeokuta-born civil servant on 9 May 1936 in Lagos. He was one of six children born into the family.
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.
In the year 1964, the elder statesman joined the United Africa Company of Nigeria, at the time a subsidiary of the United Africa Company which played a prominent role in British colonisation.
Shonekan went on to become an assistant legal adviser before being promoted to deputy adviser and joined the board of directors at the age of 40.
Four years later, Shonekan became Chairman and Managing Director of the UAC in 1980.
One year after, Shonekan was installed as the Abese of Egbaland in 1981.
He assumed office simultaneously as head of transitional council and head of government under Ibrahim Babangida on 2 January 1993.
He was subsequently sworn in as Interim Head of State on 26 August 1993 after President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida resigned as Head of State following the annulment of the June 12 elections.
Shonekan’s government lasted only three months, ending 17 November 1993 as he was overthrown in a palace coup by the late General Sani Abacha.
In 1994, he founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, an advocacy group and think-tank for private sector-led development of the Nigerian economy.
Shonekan was the third oldest surviving Head of State by age after Queen Elizabeth II and Gen Yakubu Gowon(Rtd) before his Tuesday.
