2nd April, 2018
Photo: The Advertiser
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Monday described the passing away of South-African anti-apartheid icon, Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, as a huge loss to Africa of a courageous woman.
Buhari, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that she was a woman of uncommon determination, steadfastness and perseverance who held aloft the torch of the struggle against institutionalised discrimination even while her ex-husband, the late Madiba, President Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.
“President Buhari, on behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, commiserated with the family of the deceased, the government and people of South Africa, urging them to be consoled by the knowledge that the late Winnie Mandela’s contributions to ending apartheid will not be forgotten,” the statement said.
According to Buhari, Winnie Mandela remained a pride not only to the African woman, but indeed all Africans.
The President prayed that God Almighty would comfort all those who mourn the departed and grant her soul eternal rest.