The Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to the Kingdom of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Lindsay Kimwole Kiptiness, paid a condolence visit to the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok today to mourn with the people of Nigeria following the passing away of Chief Ernest Shonekan, the former transition President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In early 1993, Chief Shonekan headed the transitional council for handing over power from the Military to a democratically elected leader of the Third Nigerian Republic at the critical time of economic hardship. In the same year, General Ibrahim Babangida announced his resignation as the Nigerian Head of State and signed a decree establishing the Interim National Government led by Chief Shonekan who was eventually sworn-in as the Nigerian head of state. However, as this process had taken place just a few months after the annulment of the June 12th elections in which MKO Abiola is believed to have won, the country was under the pressure of western imposed sanctions, exodus of foreign investments, political unrest by MKO's opposition faction and public turmoil making it difficult to govern. Chief Shonekan's short-lived administration was also viewed as illegitimate for his concurrent service as an executive of Royal Dutch Shell and the interim President of Nigeria. 

Chief Shonekan died on the 11th of January 2022 at the age 85 years after a brief illness. He will be best remembered for his bill to repeal three major draconian decrees of the military government that weakened the civilian government by placing it under military control, as well as his relentless efforts to cancel Nigeria's debts. Ambassador Kiptiness expressed deep condolences and sympathies to the government and people of Nigeria on behalf of the Kenya Embassy and the government of Kenya.