Chief Ernest Shonekan who headed the Interim National Government that succeeded the junta of General Ibrahim Babangida, has died. Shonekan died in Lagos at the age of 85.
Shonekan was the interim head of the Nigerian Government between August 26 and November 17 1993 when he was ousted in a coup led by late General Sani Abacha.
During his brief stint as Interim President, Shonekan tried to win public support by freeing political prisoners, lifting press restrictions, and dismantling the oil industry bureaucracy, while promising to hold a new presidential election on Feb. 19, the following year.