Jonathan, Peter Obi, Atiku pay Tribute to the Death Of Queen Elizabeth II
UK_____ Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after the UK’s longest-serving monarch died on Thursday.
The Queen, who reigned for 70 years after coming to the throne in 1952, died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle.
Her eldest son, Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead England in mourning as the new King.
Reacting, Jonathan, in a tweet via his Twitter handle, said the late Queen was a champion of social change and a protagonist of modern Britain, adding that her death will be deeply felt globally.
Jonathan tweeted: “My deepest condolences to King Charles, the United Kingdom and the entire Commonwealth over the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history.
“She was a well-loved sovereign with a strong sense of duty and service, a champion of social change and a protagonist of modern Britain.
“Her Majesty was a remarkable matriarch who exemplified dignity, selflessness, and compassion and, for a long time, stood as a symbol of unity in the Commonwealth.
“Her death will be deeply felt across the world. May God comfort her family and grant her soul eternal repose.- GEJ.”
Also reacting, Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, wrote on Twitter: “I am saddened to hear of the passing on of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. My thoughts and prayers are with the @RoyalFamily, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations, over this irreplaceable loss.
“Hers was an impactful reign and beautiful and explored life devoted to democratic ideals, charity, selflessness and empathy. She will always be remembered by the lives, organisations, institutions and countries she positively touched during her reign. May she rest in eternal peace. –PO.”
Similarly, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar also wrote on Twitter: “The passing of Queen Elizabeth II comes to everyone around the globe with a rude shock.
“Her passing is an end of a golden era. Her reign was epochal, not just in the United Kingdom but the entire Commonwealth.
“The world has known only one Queen, and the passing of Queen Elizabeth II will be the end of an impactful reign, and for the rest of our humanity, it shall be the beginning of history.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the people and government of the United Kingdom and, importantly, the @RoyalFamily. May the soul of the Queen Rest in Peace. –AA.”
Britain’s new monarch, King Charles III, addressed a mourning nation and the Commonwealth for the first time Friday, a day after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Here is his statement, pre-recorded in the Blue Drawing Room in Buckingham Palace during the afternoon and broadcast at 6:00 pm on Friday.
Read full speech below:
I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow. Throughout her life, Her Majesty the Queen — my beloved Mother – was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example.
Queen Elizabeth’s was a life well lived, a promise with destiny kept, and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today.
Alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the United Kingdom, in all the countries where the queen was head of state, in the Commonwealth and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than 70 years in which my mother, as queen, served the people of so many nations.
In 1947, on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her people.
That was more than a promise: it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life. She made sacrifices for duty.
Her dedication and devotion as sovereign never wavered, through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss.
In her life of service, we saw that abiding love of tradition, together with that fearless embrace of progress, which make us great as nations. The affection, admiration and respect she inspired became the hallmark of her reign.
And, as every member of my family can testify, she combined these qualities with warmth, humour and an unerring ability always to see the best in people.
I pay tribute to my mother’s memory and I honour her life of service. I know that her death brings great sadness to so many of you and I share that sense of loss, beyond measure, with you all.
When the queen came to the throne, Britain and the world were still coping with the privations and aftermath of the Second World War, and still living by the conventions of earlier times.
In the course of the last 70 years, we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many faiths.
The institutions of the State have changed in turn. But, through all changes and challenges, our nation and the wider family of Realms — of whose talents, traditions and achievements I am so inexpressibly proud — have prospered and flourished. Our values have remained, and must remain, constant.
The role and the duties of monarchy also remain, as does the Sovereign’s particular relationship and responsibility towards the Church of England — the Church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted.
In that faith, and the values it inspires, I have been brought up to cherish a sense of duty to others, and to hold in the greatest respect the precious traditions, freedoms and responsibilities of our unique history and our system of parliamentary government.
As the queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.
And wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, or in the Realms and territories across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life.
My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities.
It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.
This is also a time of change for my family. I count on the loving help of my darling wife, Camilla.
In recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort.
I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much.
As my heir, William now assumes the Scottish titles which have meant so much to me.
He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall which I have undertaken for more than five decades.
Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty.
“With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.
I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.
In a little over a week’s time, we will come together as a nation, as a Commonwealth and indeed a global community, to lay my beloved mother to rest.
In our sorrow, let us remember and draw strength from the light of her example.
On behalf of all my family, I can only offer the most sincere and heartfelt thanks for your condolences and support.
They mean more to me than I can ever possibly express.
And to my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you.
Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years.
May ‘flights of angels sing thee to thy rest’, the statement added.
Putin Won’t Attend Queen Elizabeth’s Funeral
Russian President Vladimir Putin is not planning on going to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, his spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in his daily press briefing on Friday.
Although “Russians respected her for her wisdom,” Peskov said, Putin’s attendance at the Queen’s funeral “is not being considered”.
The PUNCH reports that eulogies from global leaders and leading personalities all over the world poured in for Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch, as she died at the age of 96 on Thursday.
She died peacefully at Balmoral Castle, her estate in the Scottish Highlands in the afternoon marking the end of an era in the United Kingdom.
Her death, which was announced by Buckingham Palace, attracted glowing tributes from global leaders, who described her in glowing terms.
The crown passes immediately to her son and heir Charles, who will officially be known as King Charles III.
