African leaders extol Arap Moi’s virtues at memorial service Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, joined other African leaders that paid tributes to the late former President of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi.
The memorial service which is on-going is in his honour at the Nyanyo Stadium, Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
Professor Osinbajo set the ball rolling when he was invited to the podium by President Uhuru Kenyatta for his funeral oration, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Nigeria.
Decolonization of Africa
In his speech, Vice President Osinbajo described the late President Moi as a “great African patriot and one of the foremost leaders of the decolonization of Africa.”
He said that that late Moi would be remembered for the pioneering work he did with regard to regional cooperation.
“He was, as we have heard, very instrumental in resuscitation of the East African Community along with President Museveni and others.
“He was also very instrumental in COMESA (Common Market for East and Southern Africa) and even IGAD (Inter Governmental Authority on Development).
“These are the precursors of the African Continental Free Trade Area arrangements that we are making today and to which almost every African country has subscribed to. And it will define the future of trade and relations in Africa.”
Professor Osinbajo prayed God to comfort the family of the late former President Moi and the government and people of the Republic of Kenya.
Other African leaders who paid tributes to the late Moi were Zwede, Ethiopia; Salva Kir, South Sudan; Brahim Ghali, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic; Jakaya Chikwete, Tanzania; Paul Kagame, Rwanda; Yoweri Museveni, Uganda.
Multi-party democracy
African leaders extol Arap Moi’s virtues at memorial service In his tribute, President Kir said that the people of South Sudan were “heavily touched by the death of President Daniel Arap Moi who is the icon of peace in our region.”
In her tribute, Ethiopian President, Sahle-Work Zwede, said that Moi would be “remembered for the fundamental role he played in the formation of our regional organisation IGAD in 1986.”
African leaders extol Arap Moi’s virtues at memorial serviceShe said that President Moi played prominent roles in bringing peace to Sudan and Somalia.
Former President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki, credited the late Moi with the development of multi-party democracy in Kenya.
Tributes also came from Kenyan leaders led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, and including former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga and the Deputy President, William Ruto, and Moi’s son, Senator Gideon Moi.
The late former President Daniel Arap Moi was the 2nd and longest serving president of Kenya from 1978 to 2002.
He died on February 4, 2020 at the age of 95.
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