President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of Namibian President Hage Geingob, whom he described as a veteran in the fight for democracy.
The 82-year-old leader, who acknowledged last month that he was getting cancer treatment, died on Sunday, according to acting President Nangolo Mbumba’s statement.
Tinubu, in a sympathy condolence issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, highlighted that Geingob’s death happened at a time when Africa needed his visionary skills.
“President Tinubu mourns the painful loss of this veteran in the struggle for democracy, a proponent of good governance, and an advocate of economic, social, and political solidarity among African peoples.
“The President notes that this tragedy comes at a time when Africa needs more visionary leaders who believe in the common destiny of the continent and who can strengthen bonds across borders and spread the tendrils of cooperation across all fields of human endeavour.
“As Namibia mourns, President Tinubu assures the Republic that his thoughts and prayers, and indeed those of Nigerians, are with them,” the statement read in part.
Geingob was Namibia’s longest-serving prime minister and third president, having been elected in 2014.
Geingob had brain surgery in 2013 and an aortic operation in adjacent South Africa last year.
He had been having treatment at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek prior to his death.
