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Ernest Shonekan Dead – 10 Fast Facts About The Late Former National Leader

Ernest Shonekan dead

Chief Ernest Shonekan who served as the interim leader of the Nigerian government has passed away.

Shonekan who was 85 years old died on the 11th of January 2022 in a hospital in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

His death was confirmed to the media by the government of Ogun State where the late elder statesman hails.

Fast Facts About Ernest Shonekan

  1. Ernest Shonekan was appointed as the interim leader of the Nigerian Government by General Ibrahim Babangida in 1993. The appointment came after severe pressure on Babangida to relinquish power after he rejected the results of the June 12, 1993 election which MKO Abiola had won.
  2. Shonekan’s reign was short-lived lasting for merely three months (August 26, 1993 – November 17, 1993) as he was ousted by a palace coup led by General Sani Abacha.
  3. Shonekan was on the 2nd of January 1993 appointed to serve as the head of the transitional council that was set up by General Babangida as the final phase of power handover to a democratic government.
  4. Before being called to serve as an interim national leader, Ernest Shonekan was serving as the Chairman and managing director of United Africa Company of Nigeria (UAC).
  5. He had joined UAC in 1964 and rose through the ranks of the company to become an assistant legal adviser and later deputy adviser and a member of its board of directors when he was 40 years old.
  6. Ernest Shonekan was a lawyer who earned his law degree from the University of London before proceeding to attend the illustrious Harvard Business School. He was also educated at CMS Grammer School and Igbobi College.
  7. Shonekan was born on the 9th of May 1936 in Lagos State into a family of 8 including his parents. His father was a civil servant from Abeokuta, Ogun State.
  8. After being ousted by Abacha, Ernest Shonekan founded the advocacy and think-tank, Nigerian Economic Summit Group in 1994. The group was incorporated as a non-profit in 1996. NESG is a non-partisan and apolitical organization that aims to promote sustainable growth and the development of the Nigerian economy.
  9. Shonekan was married to Margaret Shonekan and they had four children including Korede Shonekan, Adeboye Shonekan, Kemi Shonekan, and Yele Shonekan.
  10. Ernest Shonekan was the third oldest surviving head of state after Queen Elizabeth II and General Yakubu Gowon.

Read Also: Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Dosunmu Has Passed On

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2Baba unfollows wife Natasha and refollows ex-wife Annie

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An eyewitness account shared by a social media user claimed Osawaru had demanded to speak with 2Baba on arrival, though the widely circulated video from the scene does not show what specifically triggered the confrontation.

Following the incident, 2Baba was said to have told Osawaru he was no longer interested in continuing their relationship. Checks on his Instagram account on Sunday confirmed he had unfollowed her, while Osawaru continued to follow him.

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In a further twist, checks on Monday showed that 2Baba and Annie have since followed each other again on Instagram, more than a year after the pair had unfollowed one another following their separation. The renewed connection has fuelled fresh speculation and reactions online, with many commenters framing the timing as a kind of poetic justice given the current strain between 2Baba and Osawaru.

This isn’t the first sign of tension surrounding the marriage. In a previous incident, 2Baba reportedly interrupted a livestream in which his former managers were discussing his private life, telling them directly to stop. Shortly after, a heated exchange between him and Osawaru was heard off-camera before the broadcast was abruptly cut.

Throughout the public scrutiny surrounding his relationships, 2Baba has maintained that Osawaru was not the reason for his separation from Annie.As of publication, neither 2Baba nor Osawaru has issued a public statement addressing the nightclub incident or the changes to their social media activity.

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Nollywood star Tonto Dikeh launches Christian Prayer Ministry

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While announcing the gift, the businessman explained that his children encouraged him to make the presentation. “On behalf of my children, I am presenting a brand new house for you worth ₦400 million in Lifecamp, Abuja.”

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Just weeks later, he paid her bride price during a traditional introduction ceremony in Edo State, after which they had a court wedding.

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