BEVERLY HILLS, February 24, (THEWILL) – President Buhari on Wednesday expressed sadness over the death of former Saudi Arabia’s longest-serving Oil Minister, Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani.
Zamani died in a London hospital at the age of 90 years.
Reacting to his death, President Buhari in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, described Yamani as one of the greatest and most skilful negotiators he ever met as a Minister for Petroleum Resources during the Murtala/Obasanjo regime.
According to the President, “The late Yamani was a towering figure in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC because of his remarkable leadership skills and fierce commitment to protecting the interests of oil-producing countries.”
President Buhari recalled that, “The 1973 oil embargo drew world attention to the tremendous influence of Yamani in the affairs of the oil cartel.
“Whether you love him or loathe him, there is no denying the fact that Zaki Yamani was a powerful force in OPEC affairs who commanded respect and admiration of friends and foes alike.
“As one of the younger oil ministers representing their countries at OPEC, I was awed and inspired by Yamani’s remarkable leadership skills and diplomatic finesse.”
He described Yamani as a lucky man who survived terrorist captivity after being taken hostage by the notorious terrorist ‘Carlos the Jackal’ in 1973.
President Buhari extended his condolences to King Salman, the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques and the government of Saudi Arabia over what he called “this immense loss of a world statesman and consummate Oil Minister.”
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