said he was humbled sitting on the front- row at both the state
funeral and private burial ceremonies of former South Africa
President, Nelson Mandela at his native home at Qunu, near
Mthatha in the Eastern Cape Province.
According to the former Presidential aspirant on the platform
of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he was also honoured
flying on the same plane with the South Africa President,
Jacob Zuma from Pretoria to Mthatha to be part of Mandela's
last journey.
A statement from Atiku's office yesterday read, " former Vice
President Abubakar was on Sunday honored by the South
African leadership with front-row seat at both the state funeral
and private burial ceremonies of global icon, Madiba Nelson
Mandela at the late leader's native home at Qunu, near
Mthatha in the Eastern Cape Province.
"Mandela's body was flown here from Pretoria where he had
lain is state for three days for a state funeral attended by 4,000
and a private burial witnessed by 400, reserved for key
government officials, a few foreign leaders and intimate
family members.
"Atiku was selected to be among the few lucky personalities
to see Mr. Mandela's final burial ceremonies in the land of his
ancestors in accordance with the Xhosa culture by the South
African leadership, with which he has maintained an excellent
type of relationship since the days when he, as Vice President
and the then Deputy President Zuma co-chaired the Nigeria-
South Africa Bi-national Commission. That was a period
marked by important trade and investment relations between
the two countries.
"A few African heads of state and international figures
including Rev. Jesse Jackson, Iranian Vice President and
Prince Charles of Britain were similarly honored.
"In a word: humbled," said Atiku following today's services.
"Humbled to have known a man as great as Nelson Mandela,
humbled to have been a witness today, and humbled to have
been so honored by the government of South Africa."
"Atiku flew from Pretoria to Mthatha with President Zuma in
the same plane. The state funeral was held with extremely
tight security under a vast domed marquee constructed for the
purpose in the verdant hills adjacent to the house Mr.
Mandela built in Qunu."
Via: Vanguard
No comments:
Post a Comment