Shimon Peres

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended condolences to the government and people of the State of Israel over the passing on of its former President and Prime Minister, Shimon Peres.

The president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, conveyed his message in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Adesina said the president joined the global community and world leaders in mourning the former two-time prime minister and president of Israel.

He said the deceased, who exhibited visionary leadership, voice of wisdom and unparalleled experience of diplomacy in the Middle East, would continue to resonate in the long search for peace in the region.

Adesina credited the president as saying that as a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 alongside Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, Peres demonstrated statesmanship and patriotism in signing the Oslo Accord and the subsequent treaties for a two-state solution.

He said that the president described the signing of the accord as “most quintessential and should be followed through so that the younger generations will inherit peace and harmony.’’

Adesina added that Buhari affirmed that Peres served “firmly, faithfully and dutifully in building a modern Israeli state, and also rose to the occasion when the world desperately needed a heart of love, magnanimity and understanding to heal the wounds of hostility in the region.’’

“President Buhari joins the world in celebrating the warm memory of gentleness, goodness and kindness that Peres leaves behind for other leaders to emulate in serving their country and working for humanity,’’ Adesina said.

He added that the president prayed that Almighty God would grant Peres  eternal rest and comfort members of his family.