By Ayo Kehinde
The Saint Lucia Government has conferred an honorary knighthood on Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Titled Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL), the Office of the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia said the knighthood was approved by the Governor General of Saint Lucia after advice from Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.
“The Government of Saint Lucia is pleased to announce that, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor General has conferred the title of Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL) upon His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, the statement read.
“Upon completion of the formal investiture, His Excellency will be accorded the title: H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, KCOSL (Hon..), President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu, read.
The Nigerian leader has been on a state visit to Saint Lucia since Saturday, having arrived in Vieux Fort at 5:30 p.m. local time. The visit marks the first stop in his two-nation tour of the Caribbean and South America.
During his state visit, President Tinubu announced on Monday, the establishment of diplomatic relations with Saint Lucia, describing it as a “symbolic bridge that will provide a gateway in fostering closer ties between us”.
Tinubu stated this while addressing a special joint session of the Senate and House of Assembly of Saint Lucia at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia.
The President also proposed creating a Joint Commission or Political Consultation Agreement as a mechanism for structured cooperation between Nigeria and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).