ABUJA, 20TH JANUARY 2004
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Mr President
Your Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am fortunate to have been asked to take part in this auspicious occasion where we are celebrating the life of an exemplary African, and indeed an international figure of the highest repute.

If I had not been invited to this event and I got to know about it before it took place, I may have crashed it. And it is for good reason, inspite of what the tabloids would have reported. Indeed a typical headline would have been "Kabbah crashes party in Abuja" or "Saro President crashes party in Abuja!"

I am delighted that I did not have to crash this event. For this I am grateful to my brother, President Olusagun Obasanjo and the organisers. I am even more grateful and honoured to have been asked to serve as Chairman of the occasion.

What else can one say about a man who earned every rung of the ladder of success, to the top of organizations such as the multi-cultural and human development-oriented Commonwealth of Nations, and one that is dedicated to the protection and preservation of nature, namely the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)? What else can one say about a man who I understand has been awarded some thirty honorary degrees, almost one for every year of his illustrious career in the service of the Commonwealth?

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, for me, Chief Emeka Anyaoku is not just the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth - if you allow me, I would dub him "Mr Commonwealth". He is not just a veteran international civil servant, with emphasis on the word "servant"; nor is he just a diplomat and skilful negotiator, a great public speaker and lecturer, a trustworthy member of various public and private institutions, and a traditional leader in his own right. Beyond all these accomplishments, and from my own personal experience, Elearzar Chukwuemeka Anyaoku (E-LE-ZAR CHUKWE-EMEKA) is one good human being.

I shall never forget his words of concern, encouragement and wisdom that he conveyed to me personally during those dark days in June, July and August 1997, following Johnny Paul Koroma's nefarious effort to deprive the people of Sierra Leone their hard won democracy, and impose on them a coalition of rebel-junta brutality.

Chief Anyaoku called me on the phone on a regular basis. Those calls transcended the formalities of official fact-finding and briefings. They also carried the human touch, the touch that so often makes all the difference in times of personal and national tragedy.

Now, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, you understand why I am so delighted to be here and to play this part in the book launching event for, and in honour of, the Chief.

I am sure that readers of this book will not only enrich their experiences but will also derive great pleasure in the process.

I thank you.

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