President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, paid glowing tribute to the late founding President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr Sam Nujoma.
Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, spoke during a state burial for the late Namibian leader held at Heroes’ Acre, Windhoek, Namibia.
Shettima, in the company of several African Heads of Government, joined President Nangolo Mbumba of Namibia at the state burial, where he paid Nigeria’s last respects on behalf of President Tinubu.
The late Nujoma, who led Namibia to achieve political Independence, passed away on 8 February at the age of 95 at a hospital in Windhoek.
The Nigerian leader described late Nujoma as a warrior who galvanised Nigeria and other African nations to fight for his country’s freedom.
Tinubu noted that Dr Nujoma’s demise was not an exit from space and time, but the wake of his immortality in the minds of Africans.
He eulogised the foremost African statesman, adding that Nujoma was not just a national hero but a warrior who defied oppression and inspired an entire continent.
He said, ‘We have not come to this sacred ground to bury a man. We have come to enshrine a legacy.
‘We have come to salute a life that was lived not for itself, but for the people, for the land, for the ideals of freedom. For him, Africa stands still today.
‘Dr Sam Nujoma was not just the founding father of a nation that needed a hero; he was a warrior in the age of chains.
‘He looked into the face of oppression in the most dangerous time to do so and declared that no African shall ever be a second-class citizen on his own soil.’
Tinubu also praised Nujoma’s leadership beyond independence, noting that he built Namibia from the ashes of occupation and ruled selflessly for his people.
‘But even after victory, you did not rest. Independence was not the destination; it was only the beginning.
‘You built this nation from the ashes of occupation. You turned resistance into governance, turned a dream into reality. You did not rule for yourself; you ruled for your people.
‘You sacrificed your comfort for the freedom, dignity, and justice of all Namibians,’ he noted.
The Nigerian leader declared that he now lives on in Namibia’s freedom and Africa’s collective history.
He highlighted Nigeria’s support for Namibia’s liberation struggle, stressing that the bond between the two nations was forged in the fight against apartheid and colonial rule.
‘Nigeria was not a bystander in the Namibian struggle. When the world turned its back, we stood. When your voice was drowned by the guns of apartheid, we spoke.
‘When your hands were tied, we reached out. We did not do this as charity. We did not do this as a favour.
‘We did this because your struggle was our struggle. Your pain was our pain. Your freedom was our freedom,’ he said.
Tinubu reassured the people of Namibia of Nigeria’s solidarity, asserting that the struggle that united both countries has become the foundation of an unbreakable friendship.
‘Nigeria is here today not only to honour you but to remind the world that the bond between our nations is unbreakable.
‘That the struggle that brought us together is now the foundation of a friendship that will never fade.
‘Namibia, you do not grieve alone. Africa grieves with you. The free world grieves with you. But more than that, we celebrate you. Because in this land, in this soil, we did not just lose a man. We gained a legend.’
The burial was attended by the President of South Africa, Matamela Ramaphosa; the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa; and the leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Others are the President of Tanzania, Félix Tshisekedi; President of Malawi, Samia Hassan; and the President of Ghana, John Mahama, as well as some former Presidents and heads of missions.
