The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group Secretary-General, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has expressed his deep shock and sadness on the passing away of H.E Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar‘Adua, the President of Nigeria, on Wednesday.
In a letter to His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the new President of Nigeria, Dr. Chambas, who was the former President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), described the late President Yar‘Adua as the symbol of decency, honesty and integrity.
“He will especially be remembered as ‘Mr. Rule of Law’ and for the amnesty that laid the foundation for peace and justice in the Niger Delta part of Nigeria,” Dr Chambas said in his letter.
Dr. Chambas also underscored, in his letter, the commitment of the late President to political and economic reform, which was widely acknowledged in the international community.
Dr Chambas, who worked with President Yar‘Adua (top photo) during his time as the President of ECOWAS, recalled that he had provided determined leadership to the ECOWAS sub-region, which under his chairmanship pressed on with the effort to consolidate peace, security, development and integration in West Africa.
“He was steadfast in defence of constitutional democracy in Guinea and Niger and in upholding the ECOWAS policy of zero tolerance for coup d’etat,” Dr. Chambas wrote in his letter of condolence to President Jonathan.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chambas signed the Book of Condolences at the Nigerian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday and the ACP Committee of Ambassadors on the same day observed a minute silence in honour of the late President.
Secretary-General Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas signs the Book of Condolences in the presence of the Ambassador of Nigeria, H.E. Mr Usman Alhadji Baraya on Thursday in Brussels.
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