The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, paid a condolence visit to the family of Chief Ernest Shonekan, late Head of the defunct Interim National Government of Nigeria.

The President was earlier in Abeokuta in Ogun, for the inauguration of some projects by Gov. Dapo Abiodun.

The President arrived at the Ikoyi residence of Shonekan at 4:40 pm with high profile dignitaries and security.

Buhari was in the company of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, his Ogun counterpart, Mr Dapo Abiodun; and Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee among others.

During the condolence visits at the residence, there was a heavy presence of security operatives, police, military and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in and around the premises.

No fewer than 20 patrol vans of police and military police as well as Armoured Personnel Carriers were stationed around the residence at Ikoyi in Lagos.

Shonekan died in Lagos on Tuesday at the age of 85.

He succeeded Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to become the Head of the Interim National Government (ING) from Aug. 26, 1993 to Nov. 17, 1993.

The ING was constituted in August 1993 by Babangida in the aftermath of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Shonekan was, however, overthrown in a palace coup led by the late Gen. Sani Abacha, who was the Defence Secretary in the Shonekan-led ING.

Prior to his brief political career, Shonekan was the chairman and chief executive of the United African Company (UAC) of Nigeria.

Maxymilliano:
Only God knows the traumatic experience the bereaved family would have gone through to have hosted Buhari and his heavy security entourage.

Bestowed:
Very thoughtful of the president