Obasanjo condoles with Tanzania President, over ex-leader, Mkapa’s death
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has condoled with the President of Tanzania, John Magufuli on the death of the country’s former leader, Benjamin Mkapa, who died on Thursday, at age 81.
Penpushing reports that Obasanjo, in the condolence letter described late Mkapa as brother and friend, adding that he was a passionate leader, particularly about Great Lakes Region as well as leadership issues in Africa.
The copy of the letter which was made available to journalists through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi on Friday, Obasanjo, emphasized that Mkapa would be missed for his for his exemplary leadership across Africa.
“President Mkapa will be missed for his exemplary leadership across Africa but particularly for his contribution to nation-building in the United Republic of Tanzania where he served as the third President of the country from 1995 to 2005’.
“Since I worked closely with Benjamin Mkapa as Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria when I was military Head of State, I have found him as a man of principle and commitment who embodied the virtues of truth, justice, discipline, hard work, and humility. He was a good man, a good Tanzanian, and a good African. We will all miss him.
“As you know, I worked very closely with our departed brother for over twenty years. While we were both in office as Presidents of our respective countries, I found in him a reliable friend, ally and confidant. We worked together under the auspices of AU and NEPAD with constructive contributions at the various fora in our joint efforts at charting a new future for Africa particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS, launching of the ILO report on “A Fair Globalisation: Creating Opportunities for All”, the South Centre, World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, among others. He was passionate about peace and security in the Great Lakes Region where we also worked together as well as leadership issues in Africa.
“Upon our exit from Presidency, I frequently called on him for support and advice on issues of interest to Africa. He was always welcoming, accommodating and he offered wise counsel with an open, charitable, and progressive heart;,Obasanjo wrote.
“I join the Government and the people of Tanzania as well as millions of others around the world in mourning a man, who dedicated his life to the growth and development of Tanzania, his country, in particular, and Africa as a whole.”
