President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the widow of environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr, saying her family is not alone in mourning the passage of the illustrious son of Ogoni land.
In a telephone call yesterday to the widow and her children, the President enjoined them to take solace in the fact that their late husband and father lived to see the beginning of the restoration of the devastated ecosystem of Ogoni land – a struggle which he inherited from his late father, Ken Saro-Wiwa.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President urged the widow to remain emotionally strong and resilient at this sad period in the life of the family.
He said Saro-Wiwa Jr did not die in vain, as his exploits would remain evergreen in national consciousness.
Buhari’s telephone call followed his condolence message on Wednesday, in which he listed achievements of the late author and journalist.
Also, former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed grief at the death of one of his former aides, Ken Saro-Wiwa Jnr.
The former President described him as a bright star and patriot.
In a condolence message to the family, Jonathan noted that the late Saro-Wiwa Jnr, who served in his administration as a senior special assistant (SSA) on Civil Society and International Media, was a strong advocate for a just society.
In a statement by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, the former President said: “I am deeply sad by the passage to eternal glory of Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa Jnr, at the age of 48.
“A bright star has been prematurely plucked from the Nigerian firmament. Saro-Wiwa Jnr, like his father, the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, was a patriot.
“He was a consummate writer, highly driven and determined crusader with an undiluted sense of citizen rights, equity and justice.
“Ken was friendly, humane, idealistic and selfless, giving freely of himself in service to humanity, without expecting any personal reward.”