Buhari pays tribute to Ohaneze President General, Obiozor

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said he was “deeply saddened” by the passing of Professor George Obiozor, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, worldwide.

The President, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, condoled with Obiozor’s family, the government and the people of Imo State as well as Ndigbo, at home and in the Diaspora.

Buhari, who described his demise as an immeasurable loss to the country, said 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 of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) exemplified leadership skills and values as a diplomat.

The President said the contributions of the unique leader and strong proponent of peace and a stable polity, who also held other strategic public positions, would never be forgotten.

President Buhari expressed hope that all who mourned the demise of the statesman, who commanded great respect among his peers in the academia and foreign policy arena, would honour his memory by actively embracing his beliefs and ideas geared towards uniting Nigeria beyond geo-political considerations.

The President who had fond memories of meeting Prof. Obiozor on several occasions and valued his endearing sense of patriotism, joined the Igbo nation in mourning the irreparable loss of this great son of Nigeria and prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the deceased.