Mandela’s Spirit Lives On – Jonathan

As the world mourns the death of South Africa’s first black president – Nelson Mandele, Nigeria’s President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan last night said he was immensely saddened by the death of Mandela, who he described as a freedom fighter, saying his spirit lives on to inspire oppressed people all over the world.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati noted in a statement that Jonathan, who quickly scribbled a condolence message to his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma, conveyed the sympathy and solidarity of the Federal Government and people of Nigeria to him and all South Africans as they mourn Madiba.

Abati also quoted Jonathan as saying that, “I write to commiserate with you, the Government and people of South Africa and the family of Dr. Nelson Mandela on the death of one of the greatest sons of Africa. Although it has come at the advanced age of 95, Madiba’s death will create a huge vacuum that will be difficult to fill in our continent.

“He will be sorely missed by all who cherish love, peace and freedom the world over and will be eternally honoured for his immense contribution to the dismantling of the apartheid policy, one of the world’s most obnoxious systems whose under-pining philosophy was the degradation of man by man”.

Information Nigeria reports that Dr. Nelson Mandela passed on following complications from a recurring lung infection Thursday evening, at the age of 95 in his Johannesburg home, with his family by his side.