President Bola Tinubu and former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are mourning Namibian President Hage Geingob.
By Jeffrey Agbo
President Bola Tinubu and former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have expressed sadness over the death of the Namibian President, Hage Geingob.
Mr Geingob, 82, who revealed he was receiving treatment for cancer last month, died on Sunday, a statement from Acting President Nangolo Mbumba revealed.
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Tinubu, in a condolence statement released on Sunday by his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, noted Geingob’s passing came at a time when the continent of Africa needed his visionary qualities.
“President Tinubu mourns the painful loss of this veteran in the struggle for democracy; proponent of good governance, and advocate of economic, social, and political solidarity among African peoples.
“The President notes that this tragedy comes at a time when Africa needs more visionary leaders who believe in the common destiny of the continent, and who can strengthen bonds across borders and spread the tendrils of cooperation across all fields of human endeavour.
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“As Namibia mourns, President Tinubu assures the Republic that his thoughts and prayers, and indeed those of Nigerians, are with them,” the statement read in part.
Mourning the Namibian president, Obi wrote on X on Sunday, “I have just read, with a deep sense of loss, the sad news of the death of the President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, who passed on yesterday. I sincerely commiserate with the government and good people of Namibia over the irreplaceable loss.
“May God comfort his grieving family, and grant him eternal rest. I pray that the President’s death should not disrupt the democratic progress in that country as I encourage the Acting President of Namibia, Nangolo Mbumba, to continue on that same trajectory of delivering accountable governance to the people, as was exemplified by the late president.
“The late President was modest and selfless in delivering good governance to his people. He understood that he was a public office holder, and patriotically disclosed the purpose and details of his medical trip to the United States of America to his people, thus setting an example for other political leaders on the continent to emulate. Such examples of modesty in leadership will help us all to build the New Africa we continually desire.”
First elected president in 2014, Geingob was Namibia’s longest-serving prime minister and third president.
In 2013, Geingob underwent brain surgery, and last year he underwent an aortic operation in neighbouring South Africa.
Up until his death, he had been receiving treatment at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek.
