Gbenro Adesina
President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the government and people of Cote d’Ivoire over the death of the country’s Prime Minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who was the governing party’s candidate for October’s presidential election.
In a message of condolence to President Alassane Ouattara and the government and people of Cote d’Ivoire, President Buhari said the Prime Minister, who breathed his last in the line of duty at a Cabinet meeting, left behind a void not only in his country but also in the West African sub-region which had looked up to him as an emerging leader for the new times.
“His leadership, political and business acumen, working in support of President Ouattara, epitomize the success story of the economy and the return of peace and stability after the crises Cote d’Ivoire passed through.
“May God bless his soul and further unify the country and its people”, President
Buhari said.
Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died on Wednesday, just days after returning from two months of medical treatment in France.
The 61-year-old, who had heart surgery in 2012, became unwell during a weekly cabinet meeting and was taken to a hospital where he passed away, according to a spokesman for President Alassane Ouattara.
Coulibaly’s death creates huge uncertainty over the election in Cote d’Ivoire, the world’s top cocoa grower, which has returned to normalcy after years of political turbulence and a brief civil war that killed 3,000 people.
Ouattara issued a statement calling Coulibaly “my youngest brother, my son” and his closest political ally for 30 years.
“I salute the memory of a statesman of great loyalty, devotion and love for his country,” he added.
Ouattara had designated Coulibaly as the RHDP candidate in March after announcing that he himself would not seek a third term.
