Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, has described late UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, as Africa’s gift to the world.
The Ghanaian born Nobel Peace Prize winner died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland on Saturday at the age of 80 after a brief illness.
His death inspired an outpouring of condolences from across the world.
In a statement released on Saturday, Dankwambo, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant for Nigeria’s 2019 general elections, said “Anan was, without doubt, Africa’s gift to the world.”
The statement continued: “As Secretary General of the United Nations, the second African but the first black man to hold that position, Anan was the perfect advertisement copy for the African heritage of diligence, resilience, brilliance, humaneness and all the virtues that make up impeccable character.
“On his watch, the world witnessed but survived terrible wars, violent disagreements and catastrophic disasters. He managed all with uncommon grace and unparalleled brilliance. The Nobel Peace Prize awarded Annan and the UN he headed was testimony to his place in history as the man who diligently tended the world as a sacred garden, saved it from the ravages of unreason and made it a better place for all.
“Out of office, he remained committed to the welfare of all humanity and dedicated himself to providing joy for those in distress, irrespective of their colour or creed, hope for the hopeless and a future for those whose present circumstances would have made a mess of their tomorrow.
“He was the international civil servant who went beyond the call of duty to truly serve humanity.
“Africa has lost one of its most illustrious sons. Humanity has lost perhaps its most diligent and most masterly tending hands. May Kofi Anan’s soul rest in peace.”
