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Prominent Nigerian politicians all poured in their tributes in salutation of former Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Kofi Annan, who passed on yesterday.
Ex-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, described Annan as a renowned icon of peace and a great son of Africa whose death was a sad loss to humanity.
In a tribute to the memory of Annan, who died Saturday at the age of 80, Jonathan noted that his extensive reforms reinvigorated the UN systems and positively impacted international relations. “I am deeply saddened by the death of Kofi Annan, a world renowned icon of peace and diplomacy.
He was a distinguished and accomplished international public servant and one of Africa’s most prominent diplomats. “As the United Nations Secretary-General, Annan introduced far-reaching reforms that reinvigorated the UN systems and positively impacted international relations. “A consummate diplomat, Annan successfully managed the contending powers in the UN and stood firmly for development, human rights and a peaceful world; a commitment that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Even after leaving active service, Annan remained robustly engaged in promoting good governance, diplomacy, mediation, and humanitarian services. His demise is a sad loss to Africa and the World,” Jonathan said. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his remark described Annan as a statesman who dedicated his life to democracy, peace, stability, security, equity, justice, human rights, development and progress. In a statement signed by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said: “I received the shocking news of the demise of former United Nations Secretary- General, Kofi Annan, with deep sadness at the loss of a brother and friend.
He said: “In this moment of grief, I fondly remember Kofi’s contribution to good governance and sustainable development in Africa particularly through the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Africa Progress Panel, a group of ten distinguished individuals which advocated policy change for sustainable development in Africa. “Kofi Chaired the Africa Progress Panel, and I was a member, until 2017 when we took a decision to transfer the activities of the Panel from Geneva, Switzerland, to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria under the name of Africa Progress Group.”
Former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar described the late former Secretary General of the UN as a quintessential promoter of global peace. Atiku in a statement by his media office in Abuja yesterday said Annan was an astounding diplomat and one of the leading lights in the African continent of this century.
He lamented his passing on and called on Africans of the present generation to emulate the late Annan’s commitment to the well- being and development of the African continent while serving as Chief Scribe of the United Nations. Atiku, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recalled that during his days at the United Nations, Annan served the international community with distinction, adding that his period as UN Secretary General was to a large extent peaceful internationally because of his wisdom, patience, persistence and integrity. He noted that even after retirement, Kofi Annan continued to play critical international roles that advanced the well- being of Africa and the world.
National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, says late Kofi Annan will be remembered for his remarkable role in ensuring stability of democratic governments in Africa.
Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Media Officer, Tunde Rahman, in Lagos, said the late Annan initiated interventions in conflict resolution around the world, aimed at achieving world peace.
According to him, Annan was Africa’s gift to the world and a wonderful servant to the international community.
“The death of former Secretary-General of UN, Mr Kofi Annan, in Bern, Switzerland today, August 18, 2018, is a loss to Africa and the entire world because of all that he represented.
“In his lifetime, Kofi Annan distinguished himself as an international statesman, global icon, finest diplomat and tireless champion of human rights for all.
On his part, President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, described his death as the end of a golden era in global politics and international relations. Saraki, in a statement signed on his behalf by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the late Annan as a quintessential African diplomat on the global plane and a citizen of the world, who deployed his vast capacities to tackle intractable global challenges ranging from hunger, conflict, epidemic and restoration of peace in war-torn countries.
He noted that many developing nations benefitted immensely from the humanitarian efforts of the late Annan during lifetime as he was able to raise the concerns and challenges confronting hitherto forgotten peoples and nations in the Assembly of world powers. Reacting, former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu described the passing of the Founder, Kofi Annan Foundation, Dr. Kofi Annan as a huge loss to the African continent and beyond. According to Kalu, the late scribe of the UN, made inestimable contributions toward the building of a just and fair society.
Acknowledging the selfless and patriotic attributes of the late Dr. Annan, the former governor urged leaders across the world, to emulate the late diplomat. In his condolence message, Kalu lamented the demise of Dr. Annan, stressing that the deceased will be remembered for his remarkable contributions to humanity. “I received with shock the news of the demise of former Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Kofi Annan.
“The world, in particular, Africa has lost a rare gem and well-respected statesman, whose passion for humanity was extra-ordinary.
“The late Nobel Peace Prize Laureate will be greatly missed across the globe for his unwavering determination to make the world a better place. Dr. Annan impacted the world positively and his legacies will remain evergreen. My thoughts and prayers are with the deceased family,” said the business mogul. In his own reaction, a former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi described the Ghanaian as a true representative of Africa.
He recalled his numerous meetings with him in Nigeria and outside Nigeria, how Annan’s preoccupation was how to develop Africa along the right paths. A former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States and Chargé d’Affaires, Nigerian Embassy, The Netherlands, Ambassador Joe Keshi, said the death of Annan came as a shock as many people had no inclination that he was sick or seriously sick for them to have anticipated his passage.
According to him, Annan was the second African after Boutrous Ghali of Egypt but the first person of African extraction in the United Nations to lead the global organisation. He said that to a large extent, the deceased diplomat was remarkably successful given the compelling issues that the UN had to deal with under his watch.
“Since he retired, he has spent considerable time mentoring African leaders on good governance and development. I just think that we will miss the voice of such an experienced diplomat and an African elder statesman but the world will always remember his contributions to peace and development across the globe,” he said.