Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has joined other leaders across the globe to commiserate with the Royal Family, the People of the United Kingdom, and the entire Commonwealth to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday at her country home in Scotland.
The Senior Special Assistant to Nigerian President on Media & Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said in a statement in Abuja that President Buhari received with immense sadness, the news of the passing of the Queen.
The statement noted that “modern Nigeria will never be complete without a chapter on Queen Elizabeth ll, describing her as an outstanding leader, who dedicated her life to making her nation, the Commonwealth, and the entire world a better place.
“My family and I, and the more than 200 million Nigerians have learned with immense sadness of the passing of the Queen and the end of her unique and wonderful 70-year reign. Her late Majesty was the only British Sovereign known to 90 percent of our population. Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the Royal Family, the people of the United Kingdom, and the entire Commonwealth as we join the entire world in mourning her loss,’’ the statement said.
President Buhari welcomed the ascension of King Charles III to the throne in line with tradition and prayed that he would witness the continuing robust and sisterly relations between the two nations.
Meanwhile, the British national flag was flown at half-mast on Friday at the British High Commission in Abuja as a sign of respect for Queen Elizabeth II, a day after the world’s longest-serving monarch died at her Scottish home at age 96.
She had ruled the United Kingdom since 1952 and was also Head of State in 14 Commonwealth countries around the world.
GIK/APA