.By Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari has extended heartfelt condolences to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria, on the death of the country’s former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Late Bouteflika, aged 84, ruled Algeria for 20 years.
The president, in a statement by his Spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Saturday in Abuja, also commiserated with the family of the former president and the Algerian people “as they mourn the loss of the remarkable leader’’.
President Buhari believed that Bouteflika, as a veteran in the civil war that led to Algeria’s independence, Foreign Minister, President of the United Nations General Assembly during the 1974–1975 sessions and political leader, made significant contributions to the development of his country.
On the African front, the Nigerian leader noted that Bouteflika was a true Pan-Africanist and his legacy of securing the Algiers Peace Treaty between Eritrea and Ethiopia and supporting peace efforts in the Africa Great Lakes region would not be forgotten.
The president prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed and comfort for the Algerian people in their period of grief.
(NAN)
