President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has declared three days of national mourning for former South African President, Dr. Nelson Mandela, who passed away on Thursday.
Flags are to be flown at half-mast across Nigeria during the period.
Jonathan urged all Nigerians to unite in solidarity with the brotherly people of South Africa as they mourn the great liberator, freedom fighter and hero of the black race.
The President also called for special prayers in mosques and churches in Nigeria during the period of mourning which began on Friday, for the peaceful repose of Dr. Mandela’s soul.
A special inter-denominational memorial service for Dr. Mandela will be held at the State House Chapel on Sunday.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the death of Mandela has deprived Africa and the world at large of one of the greatest statesmen that ever lived.
In a condolence message released by his media office in Abuja, Abubakar said Mandela was a statesman extraordinaire and a remarkable politician in a class of his own.
Abubakar recalled hosting Mandela at the ground breaking ceremony of the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre on March 4, 2000 in Abuja.
He said that Mandela’s tribute to Yar’Adua at that epoch event underscored his commitment to democracy and human liberty.
According to Abubakar, Mandela could have inadvertently been speaking of himself at that event when he described Yar’Adua as “a great African, a defender of democracy and a brave and courageous freedom fighter (who) paid the supreme price for democracy, freedom and justice.”
The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has described Mandela as one of the greatest Africans that ever lived.
Reacting to the demise of foremost apartheid fighter in Abuja on Friday, Senator Mark said Mandela was a selfless leader who devoted his entire life to the emancipation of his people and by extension African people.
Senator Mark therefore wants African leaders and followers alike to emulate the exemplary legacies of Mandela, which he said would outlive generations.
He said: “It is my wish and hope that African people would emulate and sustain his legacies of forthrightness, commitment, honesty and uncommon selfless service to humanity.”
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