Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has mourned the passing on of Kofi Annan, a former Secretary General of the United Nations.
In a press statement by his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President described Annan as a quintessential promoter of global peace, a great African, an astounding diplomat and one of the leading lights in the African continent of this century.
He lamented that a leading light has passed out of Africa and called on Africans of the present generation to emulate the late Anan’s commitment to the well-being and development of the African continent while serving as Chief Scribe of the United Nation’s Organisation.
The Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirant recalled that during his days at the United Nations, this great African diplomat and Ghanaian citizen served the international community with distinction and for this reason, his period of service as UN Secretary General was to a large extent peaceful internationally because of his wisdom, patience, persistence and integrity.
For this reason, Annan was bestowed with the Noble Prize for Peace in 2001 by the Alfred Noble Foundation, an award he shared with the UN, which he led, Abubakar recalled.
He stated further that the late Annan was much respected and trusted by members of the UN who took his position and counsel on issues seriously.
The Waziri Adamawa said further that even after retirement from the services of the UN, Annan never indeed retired from playing critical international roles that advanced the well- being of Africa and the world.
According to Abubakar, the late UN Chief Scribe set up the Kofi Annan Foundation, which he employed as a platform to keep alive public discourse on issues that affect Africa and the World as well as lend a hand to promote better global governance and strengthen the capacities of people and countries to achieve a fairer and more peaceful world.
Abubakar conveyed his deepest condolences to the Annan family, the Kofi Annan Foundation, the international community, the government and people of Ghana and all Africans on the passing on of this global statesman.
