Buhari mourns Annan, ex-UN Scribe

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the government and people of Ghana over the passing of former United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Kofi Annan, in the early hours of Saturday.

According to a statement issued in Abuja by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), President Buhari, who called President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana from London, said all Nigerians and ECOWAS member countries share in the deep loss, considering the strategic influence of the former scribe in global affairs and his vision for the repositioning of the West Coast and Africa.

The statement said as the first elected staff of the United Nations to lead the world organisation and first African to win the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the United Nations, Buhari noted that Annan’s humility, nobility and love for humanity 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 further said Annan’s origin and home will always be traced to Ghana, but his exceptional leadership roles, humanitarian spirit and contributions to global peace and development will remain indelible in the history of the entire world, especially the efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa and launch of the UN Global Compact.

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The President sent condolences to the wife of the diplomat, Nane Maria Annan and 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 will comfort his family and all his loved ones.