The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described the former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku, as “a source of pride and joy to Nigeria”.

Tinubu said Anyaoku is a national hero and an icon of public service and diplomacy whose service records will serve as a beacon for the present and future generations.

The APC presidential flag-bearer said this via his congratulatory message to Anyaoku in commemoration of the latter’s 90th birthday on Wednesday.

Anyaoku served as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs under Shehu Shagari’s administration.

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Tinubu, however, hailed the contributions of the former minister to national development and global political and economic order through his leadership of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The former governor of Lagos State noted that Anyaoku is a joy to Nigeria as an excellent career diplomat and elder statesman.

He stated: “I specially congratulate Chief Emeka Anyaoku on his 90th birthday celebration. Chief Anyaoku is an international statesman, a distinguished Nigerian who served the global community as the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

“Chief Anyaoku is an icon of public service whose records of impeccable contributions to Nigeria’s development and diplomacy deserve a special place in the archives for generations to come.

“At the Commonwealth Office where he made his name as an international statesman, Chief Anyaoku represented Nigeria well and for this we are grateful to him as a country and people.

“Having reached the venerable club of nonagenerians, I join family, friends and associates of Chief Anyaoku around the world to wish him happy birthday, good health and more grace to live for many more years to come.”

The Star