PICTORIAL: Tinubu Honors Legacy of Ex-President Nujoma at State Burial

 

President Bola Tinubu has paid heartfelt tribute to the late Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, the founding President of Namibia, calling him a true warrior who inspired Nigeria and other African nations to join in the fight for his country’s independence.

Dr. Nujoma, who was instrumental in leading Namibia to freedom and shaping its democratic future, passed away on February 8, 2025, at the age of 95 in Windhoek, Namibia, after a prolonged illness.

On Saturday, during a state burial ceremony held at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek, Namibia, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, expressed his admiration for the late Namibian leader. In a statement issued by Tinubu’s spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, the Nigerian leader emphasized that Dr. Nujoma’s passing marked not the end of his influence, but rather the beginning of his enduring legacy in the hearts and minds of Africans.

VP Shettima, alongside several other African Heads of State, joined Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba at the state funeral to pay Nigeria’s final respects to Nujoma.

In a speech delivered on his behalf, President Tinubu praised the late statesman, describing him as not just a national hero, but a warrior who stood boldly against oppression and inspired a continent to action.

“We have not come here to mourn a man, but to honor a legacy,” President Tinubu said. “We stand on this sacred ground to salute a life that was lived not for personal gain, but for the people, for the ideals of freedom. Today, Africa stands still in remembrance.”

He continued: “Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma was more than the father of a nation that desperately needed a hero; he was a warrior during the darkest times. He faced the brutality of oppression and courageously declared that no African would be subjugated in their own homeland.”

Tinubu also lauded Nujoma’s leadership in the post-independence era, noting that he guided Namibia through the rebuilding process after the end of occupation.

“But even after victory, you did not rest. Independence was not the end, but the beginning of something greater. You rebuilt this nation from the rubble of occupation, turning resistance into governance and dreams into reality. You ruled not for personal gain, but for the benefit of your people. You sacrificed for the dignity and freedom of all Namibians,” the President remarked.

Acknowledging Nujoma’s enduring legacy, Tinubu affirmed that the Namibian leader’s contributions transcend generations, now permanently etched in Namibia’s freedom and the collective history of Africa.

He highlighted Nigeria’s steadfast support for Namibia during its liberation struggle, stressing the deep bond formed between the two nations in the fight against apartheid and colonialism.

“Nigeria was never an outsider in your struggle,” Tinubu declared. “When the world turned away, we stood with you. When your voice was silenced by apartheid’s violence, we spoke. When you were bound, we reached out. We did not do this out of charity or favor; we did it because your fight was our fight. Your pain was our pain. Your freedom was our freedom.”

The Nigerian President reassured Namibia of Nigeria’s ongoing support, emphasizing that the shared struggle has solidified a friendship between the two nations that will endure.

“Today, Nigeria stands not only to honor you, but to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between our nations,” he said. “The struggle that brought us together now serves as the foundation of a friendship that will never fade. Namibia, you do not grieve alone. Africa grieves with you. The free world mourns with you. But more importantly, we celebrate you. In this land, we did not lose a man; we gained a legend.”

The state funeral was attended by several African leaders, including Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi, John Mahama of Ghana, as well as former Presidents and heads of diplomatic missions.