President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the death of former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Kofi Annan.
In a telephone call to President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana on Saturday from London, President Buhari commiserated with the government and people of the country on the passing of the diplomat.
President Buhari said all Nigerians and ECOWAS member countries share in the deep loss, considering the strategic influence of the diplomat in global affairs and his vision for the repositioning of the West Coast and Africa.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, he said Annan’s origin and home would always be traced to Ghana, but his exceptional leadership roles, humanitarian spirit, and contributions to global peace and development would remain permanent in the history of the entire world, especially the efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa and launch of the UN Global Compact.
The President recalled that Annan was the first elected staff of the United Nations to lead the world organisation.
He said the humility, nobility, and love for humanity by the diplomat set him apart for global greatness, achieving recognition and commendation for the reform of the United Nations’ bureaucracy and multiple interventions to bring peace to the world.
President Buhari condoled with the wife of the diplomat, Nane Maria Annan, as well as his family members, the staff of the United Nations, and the global organisations he was heading, like ‘The Elders’ which was founded by Nelson Mandela.
He prayed that the Almighty God would comfort Annan’s family and all his loved ones.
Mr Annan died on Saturday morning at the age of 80 in Switzerland after a brief illness.
