President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Thursday, extolled the departed Queen, noting that she was the only British monarch know to 90% of the Nigerian population.
He, however, expressed his condolences, as well as those of his family and the more than 200 million Nigerians over the Queen’s passage, to the British Royal Family, especially her successor, King Charles III.
Buhari said: “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 and the people of the United Kingdom and the entire Commonwealth as we join the entire world in mourning her loss.
“The story of modern Nigeria will never be complete without a chapter on Queen Elizabeth ll, a towering global personality and an outstanding leader. She dedicated her life to making her nation, the Commonwealth and the entire world a better place.
Addressing the income monarch directly, the statement said: “the President welcomes Your Majesty’s ascension to the throne in line with tradition and prays King Charles the Third’s reign will witness the continuing robust and sisterly relations between our two nations”.
