President Bola Tinubu has expressed his condolences to the government and people of Vietnam following the passing of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyễn Phú Trọng.
Trọng, who was 80, died on Friday, July 19, due to old age and illness.
Tinubu conveyed his condolences through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled ‘President Tinubu condoles with Vietnam over the passing of General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.’
Trọng, 80, died in the early afternoon of Friday, July 19, “due to old age and serious illness,” the Communist Party announced in a statement which stopped short of revealing the nature of the illness.
The party only cited Trong’s medical team, saying he died “after a period of illness, despite being wholeheartedly treated by the Party, the State, a collective of professors, doctors, leading medical experts.”
Since 2011, Trọng was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country’s most powerful position.
As head of the Politburo and Central Military Commission, he was the leader of Vietnam. He also served as President from 2018 to 2021.
Trọng‘s office and duties have been temporarily assigned to President To Lam, a major figure within the communist party.
The presidency’s statement read, “President Tinubu also commiserates with the widow of the late Vietnamese leader, Madam Ngô Thị Mận.
“The President expresses his profound sympathy over the loss, noting the huge influence and efforts of the deceased leader in shaping Vietnam.”
Tinubu assured the people of Vietnam of Nigeria’s solidarity at this time of grief.
