Former U.S. Diplomat Eulogizes Jonathan, Congratulates Buhari
As world leaders continue their show of support for Nigeria's democratic revolution, a former United States Ambassador (ret.) Herman J. Cohen has added his voice, commending President Goodluck Jonathan for his decision to concede defeat to his opponent
Cohen, founder of top United States Lobbyist group, Cohen and Woods International, also congratulates General Muhammadu Buhari on his magnificent democratic victory in the Nigerian Presidential election of 2015.
Ambassador Cohen, in a message sent to The Union, declared that the people of Nigeria have wisely decided to support change that should bring greater wealth and security to working and middle class citizens.
Cohen and Woods saluted President Goodluck Jonathan for his support for democracy and peaceful transition, adding that his name will go down in history as a great Nigerian statesman.
" The Cohen and Woods consulting team stands ready to support President-elect Buhari and his new administration in a variety of ways, including economic planning, the setting of investment priorities, support for increased private investment, and public relations in the United States. We look forward to a great and prosperous future for the people of Nigeria"
Ambassador Herman Jay "Hank" Cohen, as he is widely known, had served as the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 1989 to 1993.
His lobbying firm, Cohen and Woods International, has represented the governments of Angola and Zimbabwe, just as he brokered an end to the Eritrean-Ethiopian War in 1991.
As part of his work in Africa, Cohen observed the Angolan presidential election of 1992 and concluded the election had been "free and fair," a conclusion in stark contrast to most observers and human rights organizations which found massive electoral fraud. According to Cohen, Jonas Savimbi of UNITA, the leading opposition candidate, told Cohen prior to the election that he would not accept defeat, that he would revive the war with the MPLA.
Following the death of Jeremias Chitunda, the Vice President of UNITA, on November 2, 1992, Cohen speculated Chitunda may not have been murdered. Chitunda and two of his aides were pulled from their car and shot in the face. According to Cohen, the incident may have been an "accident."
In 1993 Cohen resigned from his office. He registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent of the Angolan government. When his firm's contract with the government ended, he went to work for the Mugabe government of Zimbabwe.