How Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered — NIDOE

The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation-Europe (NIDOE), Dr Bashir Obasekola, says the Late Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as a kind, great leader and admired monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning British monarch, died on Thursday at Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland at the age of 96 years.

Obasekola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Saturday that she was a symbol of continuity in a world of constant change.

He said that the queen ascended the throne when the movement for independence among the British colonies was severe.

The NIDOE chairman said that, as a young queen, she courageously carried on and didn’t attempt to scuttle the independence of the colonies, including Nigeria.

“On behalf of NIDOE, I join the world to express heartfelt condolences to the royal family, the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

“I also join in welcoming King Charles III to the throne. May his reign be good and successful. “God save the king!”,” he said.

According to Obasekola, Nigerian descents constitute a significant number of immigrants in the UK, and the headquarters of NIDO-Europe is registered in London.

He said the queen was seen as the vessel of transition and de-colonialism of many countries, noting that under her watch, immigrants occupied high political and economic positions in the UK.

“Before the queen passed, she had also just appointed the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss. This is as well symbolic.”

Recall that 47-year-old Truss became British Prime Minister on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

Truss described late Queen Elizabeth II as the spirit of Great Britain, adding that she was loved and admired by the people of the United Kingdom and around the world.

International relations expert, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, said that the late queen made a mark in the manner in which she managed diplomatic relations around the world..

Olukotun, of the Political Science Department, Olabisi Onabanjo University, said the late monarch was a picture of goodwill.

This, he said, was not only in the United Kingdom, but globally and particularly in Britain where she was Head of State.

“The British monarchy is a delicate institution that exercises soft power and despite this, its importance to global affairs cannot be overemphasized,” Olukotun said.(NAN)