In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President extended condolences to the late Sanha’s family and the government and people of Guinea-Bissau, on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, and member-states of the Economic Community of West African States.
As they mourn their country’s leader, President Jonathan urged the people of Guinea-Bissau to continue to safeguard the peace and stability of their country and its democratic institutions.
This, he explained, could be achieved by ensuring an orderly transition of power that conformed with the country’s constitutional order and the rule of law.
He prayed that God Almighty would grant the late President’s soul eternal rest.
Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau’s opposition rejected on Tuesday the appointment of the National Assembly Speaker as interim head of the chronically unstable country after the death of Sanha in Paris.
“The Democratic Collective expresses its complete rejection of the ascension of National Assembly leader Raimundo Pereira to the post of interim president,” read a statement from the 14-party umbrella group.
The coalition said it could not endorse Pereira to a position where he would have power to “dismiss the current Attorney General to avoid prosecuting suspects in the suspected assassination of President Joao Vieira and army chief Gen. Batista Na Waie” in 2009.
Vieira was killed by soldiers in revenge for the death of Tagma Na Waie hours earlier in a bomb attack at army headquarters.
While investigations have never yielded clear suspects publicly, the opposition has often accused Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior of involvement in the 2009 events. Gomes is seen as very close to Pereira.
Both are from the ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde which holds 67 of 100 parliamentary seats.
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