***He Was Specimen Of Patriotism, Liberation Fighter, Says Jonathan
Two former Presidents of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan have paid glowing tributes to the Late Zambia’s former President, Kenneth Kaunda, who passed on Thursday afternoon at 97 years.
Chief Obasanjo noted that the death of Zambia’s founding father and long-term leader, Kenneth Kaunda, has ended a long list of African leaders who fought colonialism and took over the reins of power at independence.
While Dr. Jonathan said Kaunda was a “specimen of the highest level of patriotism” and “strong promoter of Pan-Africanism”.
Obasanjo in a statement he issued on Thursday evening, said Africans should be consoled by the fact that Kaunda who died at 97 is taking a well-deserved rest.
“The demise of President Kaunda at the grand old age of 97 years brings to end the pioneers and forefathers who led the struggles for decolonisation of the African continent and received the instrument of Independence from the colonial masters in Africa,” he said of Kaunda who ruled Zambia for 27 years.
“Let all Africans and friends of Africa take solace in the knowledge that President Kaunda has gone home to a well-deserved rest and to proudly take his place beside his brothers such as Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia, Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal, Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria, Ahmed Sékou Touré of Guinea, Félix Houphouët-Boigny of Côte d’Ivoire, Patrice Lumumba of Congo, Nelson Mandela of South Africa to name but a few.”
The former Nigerian leader described these nationalists as people who toiled to see to the development of the countries and the continent at large.
“We are consoled that God granted President Kaunda a long life to witness the progression of Africa through five decades of proud and not-so proud moments,” Obasanjo added
Recalling his visit to Kaunda in 2015 in Lusaka the Zambia capital, he said they discussed a wide range of issues affecting Africa.
But, he said the late Kaunda was disappointed at how the continent has fared despite the sacrifices of the freedom fighters in Africa.
Obasanjo said, “I asked him if the Africa that we have today is the Africa for which he and his contemporaries struggled and fought. President Kaunda was visibly pained in his response and at some point he broke down and wept. It was obvious to me how disappointed he was about some of the challenges that have plagued our continent for decades since independence.”
He noted that Kaunda’s death should remind Africans of the vision of a free, strong, united and prosperous continent the pioneer leaders had for the people.
“Let us, African leaders and people, never let the labour of these heroes’ past be in vain,” he said.
On his part, former President Jonathan said in a statement on his Facebook wall he was deeply saddened by the passing on of former Zambian President and foremost Pan-Africanist Dr. Kenneth Kaunda who died Thursday at the age of 97 years.
According bro him, “Not only was he of very great significance to Africa’s struggle for liberation he was also quite significant to me. I met him as a much younger politician and I am glad to have maintained a close relationship with the great sage.
“Kaunda was a specimen of the highest level of patriotism. He was also a strong promoter of Pan-Africanism, an idea that has reached maturity with the African Continental Free Trade Area, which itself was a product of the vision of men and women like Mr. Kaunda.
“His life was a pattern of good works, and his post Presidential work in providing relief for HIV/AIDS patients, as well as promoting practices and measures to curb the spread of the virus are remembered.
“During my time as the Governor of Bayelsa State in 2006, Pa Kaunda visited and spent two days with us in Yenagoa, because of our shared interest in the protection of our peoples against the scourge of HIV/AIDS.
“I recall with relish the impressive pace displayed by Kaunda, then aged 82 years, at the symbolic Three Arms Walk for HIV/AIDS on the streets of Yenagoa.
“He visited me a couple of times when I was in office as President of Nigeria. We saw last in 2016 when I visited him while I was in Zambia as Head of African Union (AU) Election Observation Mission.
“He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered across the entire continent.
“On behalf of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation and my family, I condole with the government and people of the Republic of Zambia on the passing of their foremost founding father.
“I pray for fortitude to his immediate family.
– GEJ.”
News7 days ago