PHOTOS: Tinubu, African Leaders Pay Last Respect To Namibia’s Founding Father At State Burial
African leaders gathered on Saturday to pay their final respects to Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, the founding president of Namibia, during a state burial held at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek.
Nujoma, who led his country to independence and guided the nation toward democracy and stability, passed away on February 8, 2025, at age 95, after weeks of illness.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, eulogized Nujoma in a speech he delivered during the state burial.
Tinubu described Nujoma as a warrior who defied oppression and inspired an entire continent.
Quoting the Nigerian leader, “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 Shafiishuna 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 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.
Acknowledging Nujoma’s legacy, which he said transcends time, 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.
His words, “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.”
President 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.
The Nigerian leader added: “Nigeria is here today not only to honour you but to remind the world that the bond between our nations is unbreakable. 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 also attended by Presidents of South Africa, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa; Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa; Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi; Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan; Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera, and Ghana, John Mahama, as well as some former Presidents and heads of missions.
PHOTOS: Tinubu, African Leaders Pay Last Respect To Namibia’s Founding Father At State Burial is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
