President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidential flag bearer of the Peoples’ Democratic Party have both expressed deep sadness on the demise of the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, worldwide, Professor George Obiozor.
The President in a statement issued on Thursday, by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, extended heartfelt condolences to Obiozor’s family, the government and people of Imo State as well as Ndigbo, at home and in the Diaspora.
Describing his demise as an immeasurable loss to the country, the President noted that the former Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States, High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus, Ambassador to the State of Israel and former Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) exemplified leadership skills and values as a thoroughbred diplomat.
He joined the Igbo nation in mourning the irreparable loss of this great son of Nigeria, as he prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the deceased.
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party while mourning the death of Obiozor.
However, the PDP Presidential flag bearer said he received the news of Professor’s death as a rude shock.
Atiku noted that the death of the former Nigerian ambassador to several foreign missions is a huge loss for the country.
“Prof Obiozor was a charismatic personality. He was much at home in any part of Nigeria. He was a consummate diplomat who believed in consensus, and had a stabilizing influence.”
The former Nigeriam Vice President said that Obiozor’s “wide experience in diplomatic foreign missions garnered over decades and across diverse postings came in very handy in making him a pan-Nigerian”.
“Professor Obiozor taught us the essence of large-heartedness because he was generally accepted by even those who were not in support of his candidacy during the election that saw his emergence as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”
“He was a master of political consensus. A writer famous for his ‘politics of precarious balancing’ in which he espoused balancing the diverse interests in the country. He was a promoter of the unity of the nation. Igbo nation will miss him. The whole nation will miss him.”
Atiku sent his condolences to the body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the South-East and the country as a whole “over the fall of an Iroko.”
He prays for a peaceful repose of his soul and his immediate family to have the fortitude to bear the loss of its patriarch.
Similarly, Atiku Abubakar has commiserated with victims of the accident at the just-concluded Calabar Carnival.
The PDP presidential flag bearer in a press release signed by the Atiku Media Office on Thursday said that the tragic accident during the performance of bikers at the Calabar carnival is a national tragedy.
He said it was painful to hear about news of fatalities and severe injuries in the unfortunate incident, the Calabar Carnival is more or less a national and international festival and the grief that came on the heels of this year’s event is a national grief.
Gloria Thomas With Additional Report/Lateefah Ibrahim
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