Abuja: Amb. Jos¨ Zau, Ambassador of Angola to Nigeria, has acknowledged the selfless contributions of Nigerians to the pursuit and enthronement of political freedom and lasting peace in the Central African country. Zau, Extraordinary/Plenipotentiary of Angola to Nigeria, Benin, Niger, and ECOWAS, rendered the acknowledgement during Angola’s 50th independence anniversary celebration in Abuja, resulting in the conferment of excellence awards to deserving Nigerian military generals.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Nigerian generals, now retired, were those who actively participated in the United Nations Observation Missions for the peace process and monitoring of the unification of the Angolan Armed Forces. They include Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Maj.-Gen. Chris Garuba, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, and Brig.-Gen. Buba Saleh. Zau expressed that the awards are symbolic recognition and gratitude for their selfless contributions to the process of political emancipation and the achievement of lasting peace in Angola.
Zau highlighted that the conferment of the awards is an expression of profound gratitude from the Angolan people to Nigerians, for the sacrifice made in voluntarily supporting the cause of freedom and independence in Angola. He recounted the challenging period following Angola’s independence on November 11, 1975, which led to a protracted civil and proxy war lasting almost 27 years. The consequences were severe, with thousands of citizens killed or maimed, the country littered with 15 million landmines, and around 5 million internally displaced citizens overcrowding the coastal cities. Moreover, over 100,000 children were separated from their families, and approximately 70% of the population was deprived of access to healthcare.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to deepening ties with Angola. Represented by Amb. Nonyelum Afoekelu, Deputy Director/Head of Southern African Affairs Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuggar noted that the 49 years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Angola have witnessed tremendous achievements. He emphasized that there is room for more collaboration in new areas identified by both countries during the Joint Commission, reiterating Nigeria’s unrelenting commitment to deepening the strong bilateral ties for mutual benefit.
Additionally, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed gratitude for the military generals’ contributions to advancing Nigeria-Angola diplomatic ties. He also addressed recent narratives from the United States regarding Nigeria’s tolerance towards religious people, emphasizing the need for unity and understanding within Nigeria. Idris urged Nigerians to present aspects of the country that promote its political existence, rather than those that cause division.