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President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, following his discharge from hospital over the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, yesterday in Abuja, the president said he received “with great relief the news of your discharge from hospital after being successfully treated for COVID-19.”
Expressing delight on behalf of his family and the government and people of Nigeria, Buhari said: “We all join you in appreciating the wonderful staff at both the hospital and the NHS who worked round the clock to look after you and those afflicted by COVID-19.”
Also, the Nigerian leader celebrated former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Blessing Akporode Clark, on his 90th birthday today, acknowledging his contributions to the country’s foreign policy.
Buhari said the diplomat, who started his public service career in 1957 with the old Western Region Civil Service before joining the Foreign Service in 1961, played an active role in building and sustaining good relations in the early years of independence with countries and multilateral institutions, “diligently rising to become Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations (New York), Permanent Representative to United Nations (Geneva), and Permanent Representative to Organisation of African Unity.”
As pioneer member of Nigeria’s diplomatic service, the president commended the envoy’s focus and discipline in representing the country with empathy, grace and confidence as well advancing his contributions after retirement by serving as member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs, while “inspiring the right values of patriotism and nobility in younger diplomats.”
The number one citizen felicitated with Clark’s family on the “auspicious milestone, his friends and professional colleagues, especially the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) and the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN).”
He prayed that the almighty God should grant the respected ambassador good health and more strength.
