… Atiku Says He Was Nigeria’s Best Petroleum Minister Ever
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, July 21, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Presidency has said President Goodluck Jonathan received with much sadness and a feeling of great national loss, news of the passing away of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman.
Lukman died Monday morning in Vienna, Austria, his country of residence, after a brief ailment.
A statement by President Jonathan’s spokesman, Reuben Abati said, “President Jonathan commiserates with the former minister’s family, the Government and people of his home state, Kaduna, as well as his friends, associates and all those he mentored over the years in the domestic and global oil industry.
“The President shares their sorrow as they mourn the brilliant engineer, technocrat and administrator who spent almost all of his working life serving his country and the global community in various capacities including Minister, Special Adviser, Secretary-General and President of the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC).
“As Alhaji Lukman’s soul returns to its Maker, President Jonathan joins all who knew him in giving thanks to God Almighty for bestowing him on the nation and for the great intelligence, integrity, competence and humility with which he distinguished himself in all his national and international assignments.
“Nigeria, the President firmly believes, will always owe a huge debt of gratitude to the late Petroleum Minister for his very significant contributions to the development of the country’s oil and gas industry, and for serving with acclaimed distinction as the nation’s representative at the helm of OPEC affairs over many years.
“President Jonathan prays that the Almighty God will receive Alhaji Lukman’s gentle soul and grant him eternal rest in Paradise.”
Also, former Vice President Abubakar has described Lukman, as the best oil minister Nigeria ever had.
The former Vice President made the revelation in a statement by his media office in Abuja.
“I will describe (Rilwan) Lukman as the best oil minister we ever had given his unmatched knowledge of the industry and the integrity with which he ran the ministry,” the statement quoted Atiku as saying.
He recalled that Lukman’s contribution to the management of the nation’s oil and gas sector provided the impetus for his elevation as Secretary General of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The Turaki Adamawa described his death as a monumental loss and prayed that Allah will grant his family and the nation the fortitude to bear the loss.
