- Buhari saddened
Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly of Cote d’Ivoire
President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with President Alassane Ouattara and the government and people of Cote d ‘Ivoire on the death of Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly of Cote d’Ivoire.
Coulibaly (10 February 1959 – 8 July 2020) was an Ivorian politician who served as Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire from January 2017 until his death on Wednesday. He was the ruling party’s candidate in the 2020 Ivorian presidential election and had been among the favourites to win.
Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, (Media & Publicity) who disclosed the sad news in a statement said that in a message of condolence to President of Cote d ‘Ivoire, President Buhari described the Prime Minister’s death as a great loss to West African subregion 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.
The 61-year-old, who had heart surgery in 2012, became ill during a weekly cabinet meeting and was rushed to a hospital where he passed away, according to a spokesman for President Alassane Ouattara.
From reports, Coulibaly’s death has thrown Ivory Coast into uncertainty as he was also the ruling Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) hopeful presidential candidate.
He previously served as secretary general of the presidency under President Alassane Ouattara from 2011 to 2017.
President Ouattara had ‘anointed’ Coulibaly as the RHDP candidate in March after announcing that he himself would not seek a third term.