Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The virtues of late Namibian President Hage Geingob was eulogized at a memorial church service organised for him by the Namibian High Commission in Nigeria.
At the service organised on Monday at the Catholic Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja, the High Commissioner of Namibia, Humphrey Geiseb, said lots of lessons can be drawn from the late president.
According to him, the late president was a champion of disadvantaged persons in society.
He noted that the late leader championed the cause of the poor, unemployed, elderly women and made sure there was an improvement in the number of women represented in the cabinet, as well as parliament during his tenure.
He said: “President Geingob was an advocate of the less powerful in the society, through his labour he made sure that those who are less powerful are championed and also mainstreamed in governance.
“Our late president was a good leader; condolences we got pouring from Nigerians reflect him as a good representative of the people.
“His death is a great loss to Namibians, Africans and the whole world, we have lost a visionary leader as president and one who was a champion of many causes.”
Amb. John Shinkaiye, who paid tribute on behalf of the Association of Retired Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) described Geingob as Pan-Africanist.
He said: “We pay tribute to the late president and mourn his passing with his family, Africa, the Commonwealth and other organisations in which he played outstanding roles.
“We pray his family be comforted and his departure will be honoured by the continuation of a peaceful and vibrant Namibia.”
Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Amb. Poscaline Vokiwuge Gerengbo, who paid tribute on behalf of the Group of Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Ambassadors in Nigeria extolled Geingob to be worthy of emulation.
Gerengbo said: “On behalf of SADC Ambassadors in Abuja our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and people of Namibia.
“May you find comfort during this difficult time; our presence here is in admiration of a man who gave up his lifetime dedicated to his country and continent at large.”
On his part, the Chief of Staff to former President, Muhammadu Buhari, Amb. Ibrahim Gambari described Geingob as a brother, confidant and passionate African who was fearless, confident and engaging.
He said: “His sense of statesmanship is similar to leaders like Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and all those great men and women on whose shoulders we stand today.
“He was an outstanding visionary who saw the transition of his country from an oppressive apartheid regime to embrace ethnic diversity and create room for younger people to share in the vision of Namibia.”
The event which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Stephen Omale attracted former state governors, the diplomatic community, as well as the Namibia community in Nigeria.
