Politics
By Anthony Isibor
FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has sent a letter of condolence to Samia Suluhu Hassan, the newly elected President of Tanzania over the death of former President John Magufuli.
Obasanjo expressed his heartfelt condolences over the demise of Magufuli, who died from complications of coronavirus, and described his death as a great loss to Tanzania and the African continent.
He said that Magufuli was a statesman, profound thinker, tactician, and patriot, who devoted his time to the service of Tanzania in particular and our continent in general. He made noteworthy contributions to several infrastructural developments in such areas as the standard-gauge railway to connect the country with its neighbors, major highways, and a bus system in the commercial hub of Dar-es-Salaam.
“As a patriot, he made sterling contributions to the socio-economic development of Tanzania. In all of his undertakings, he acquitted himself as an African leader of great distinction to his country.
“Indeed, Africa has lost one of its finest sons. He will be sorely missed by all of us, particularly your good self, who had worked closely with him as his Vice-President striving to create opportunities for the growth and development of Tanzania and Africa,” he said.
Magufuli had ruled Tanzania since 2015 when he first won the presidential election and had faced accusations of eroding democracy from Western countries and opposition parties. He was nicknamed “The Bulldozer” because of his reputation for pushing through policies despite opposition.
Magufuli’s death, which came barely one year into his second tenure, has given room for Tanzania’s first female president, a situation that many said would not have been possible.
According to Tanzania’s Constitution, Vice President Hassan, 61, should assume the presidency for the remainder of the five-year term that Magufuli began serving last year after winning a second term.
She would be the East African nation’s first female president.
– Mar. 24, 2021 @ 9:14 GMT
Tags: Obasanjo condoles with President Hassan of Tanzania over Mugufuli’s death
