Cablegate: Nigeria: President Obasanjo Offers

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ABUJA 000266

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AFW, NSC FOR J. FRAZER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: PRESIDENT OBASANJO OFFERS
CONDOLENCES OVER LOSS OF SHUTTLE COLUMBIA

1. The Embassy has received from President Olusegun
Obasanjo a letter of condolence to President Bush
over the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia.

2. The text of the letter of condolence follows:

PRES/15 1st February 2003.

His Excellency,
Mr. George W. Bush,
President of the United States of America
White House
Washington D.C., USA

Dear President,

CONDOLENCE MESSAGE

The people and Government of Nigeria share
your deep feeling of loss and sadness at the tragedy
of the Columbia Shuttle.

The five men and two women astronauts represent
not just for America, but for the entire world, the
unrelenting efforts to serve mankind through the
conquest of visible and invisible frontiers. They
gave, so that the world can continue to gain.

Please convey to their families the deep sorrow
felt by Nigerians at this tragedy which I am sure will
be unraveled, and which will not stop the progress of
the American Space Programme.

Nigerians are with you at this hour and the
Good Lord will console you and the families of the
departed astronauts.

Yours sorrowfully,

(Signed) O Obasanjo
OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

3. Embassy will pouch President Obasanjo's letter to
AF/W for transmission to the White House.

JETER

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