The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has mourned the death of the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammed Barkindo.
Lawan in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday described the sudden death of Barkindo, who was to conclude his second term at OPEC at the end of this month as tragic.
According to him, Barkindo’s leadership of the global oil cartel was exemplary, noting that the deceased worked assiduously to build cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC countries to save the energy market at a time of a global crisis.
He added that Barkindo’s pragmatic approach and hard work at the critical time brought stability to the volatile oil market just as his stewardship at OPEC made him a pride for Nigeria and Africa.
Barkindo’s death, Lawan lamented, a monumental loss to Nigeria, the world and particularly to the global energy community.
“The news of the tragic death of OPEC Secretary-General, Mohammed Barkindo, came to me as a rude shock.
“Barkindo’s exemplary leadership at the global oil cartel brought stability to the ever volatile oil market.
“The world will remember him for how he was able to rally both the OPEC and non-OPEC members together to save the energy market.
“The world will miss him and particularly the global energy community,” he said.
Lawan accordingly condoled with the government and people of Adamawa state over the great loss and prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the sins of the departed and accept his soul into Aljannah Firdaus.