Throughout the week following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, penultimate Sunday, members of the diplomatic corps trooped into the Nigeria House in New York to pay their final respects.

Ambassadors and UN officials from Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, and multilateral organisations also visited throughout the week to sign the condolence register, beginning shortly after news of Mr Buhari’s passing broke. 

Each diplomat’s condolence message offered personal reflections on Mr Buhari’s legacy of service, discipline, and unwavering commitment to Africa’s place in global affairs.

UN secretary-general António Guterres had, in his condolence message, described Mr Buhari as a leader whose unwavering dedication to Nigeria, Africa, and global cooperation will stand as his enduring legacy.

His deputy, Amina Mohammed, similarly, described the late Nigerian leader as a man of unwavering discipline, deep conviction, and steadfast patriotism, whose legacy would endure far beyond Nigeria’s borders.

The permanent representative of China to the UN, Fu Cong, praised Mr Buhari for solidifying Nigeria’s friendship with China.

Similarly, Russian ambassador Anna Evstigneeva said Mr Buhari “contributed so much in developing friendly relations between Nigeria and Russia, and we are grateful for that”.

The permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, “expressed sincere condolences to the family, the government, and the people of Nigeria for the loss of former president”.

Lamiu Dibbo, ambassador of The Gambia, said Mr Buhari demonstrated “strong leadership during a political impasse in The Gambia in 2017”, adding that the democracy “we are enjoying is synonymous with Buhari”.

Michael Kanu of Sierra Leone, in his condolence message, said Mr Buhari “was a symbol of hope” for the West African region.

“New York City is the proud home of many Nigerians, and we join them in mourning this loss,” was the condolence message of Aissata Camara, deputy commissioner and chief of staff to the Mayor of New York. 

The Egyptian envoy to the UN described Mr Buhari as “a great and visionary African leader and a wise and sage statesman”.

“Buhari was very dear to all of us Egyptians. He has promoted good relations with his brother, President of Egypt Abdelfattah el-Sisi,” said Osama AbdelKhalek of Egypt.

UNDP Africa director Ahunna Eziakonwa, in her condolence message, said, “Nigeria and Africa are fortunate to have had late President Buhari’s service in leadership for more than four decades.”

In his tribute, Suleiman Suleima of Tanzania wrote, “We are saddened at the loss of this good man whose ideas and accomplishments we have long respected. He was a wise and valiant leader.”

Samadou Usman of the Niger Republic said, “Buhari indelibly marked the political life of Nigeria during his tenures as a military and democratically elected leader of this brotherly country.”

Also, Hari Prabowo of Indonesia said, “Buhari was a well-respected statesman known for his steadfast commitment to regional peace and global security.”

Permanent representative of Portugal to the UN, Rui Vinhas, in his condolence message, noted the good relationship between Nigeria and Portugal and recalled Mr Buhari’s state visit to Portugal in 2022.

To the permanent representative of Jamaica to the UN, Brian Wallace, Mr Buhari was a “champion of Pan African solidarity and unity and applauded his fight against corruption”.

Yuri López of Cuba said, “Former President Buhari was a defender of the sovereignty of the people and showed his sympathy towards Cuba and its historical leaders.”

The ambassador of Mozambique to the UN, Domingos Fernandes, conveyed his country’s “heartfelt condolences and solidarity” on Mr Buhari’s passing.

Tiémoko Moriko of Côte d’Ivoire described Mr Buhari as an “eminent statesman and a true friend” of Côte ’d’Ivoire”.

Ethiopia’s ambassador Tesfaye Sabo, writing about Mr Buhari, said the death of a “statesman of his calibre is a loss to all of us Africans”.

Zénon Mukongo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo saluted “his leadership on various issues, including anti-corruption”.

To Godfrey Kwoba of Uganda, Mr Buhari was “celebrated as a patriot, soldier, statesman and not only a Nigerian but a pan-Africanist.”

Permanent representative of Ghana to the UN, Harold Agyeman, in a similar vein, said, “The late President Buhari was undoubtedly a Nigerian patriot, an African statesman and a true Pan-Africanist.”

Permanent representative of the Czech Republic to the UN, Jakub Kulhánek, conveyed “heartfelt condolences” on the passing of Mr Buhari.

Permanent representative of Austria to the UN, James Larsen, expressed “most sincere condolences”.

Jérôme Bonnafont, permanent representative of France to the UN, and Kofi Akakpo, chargé d’affaires of Togo to the UN, also paid glowing tributes to the deceased.

Others who signed the condolence register were ambassadors from Korea, Pakistan, Romania, Vietnam, and Equatorial Guinea.

Mr Buhari was a military dictator from 1983 to 1985, until he was ousted and later democratically elected president (2015-2023). 

He died on the penultimate Sunday at a London hospital at the age of 82. He was buried on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura.

(NAN)