Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has paid tribute to ex-Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi following his death on Tuesday aged 95.
According to Obasanjo, Moi lived a fulfilled life, contributing to the development of his country and the continent.
The ex-military ruler said this in his message of condolence to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta over Moi’s passing.
© Provided by The PunchObasanjo’s message was released by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Friday.
Obasanjo said the deceased brokered peace between the Sudanese government and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in 2002.
He said the successful execution of the Machakos Agreement by the two major parties to the Sudanese conflict represented a substantial step in the direction of a just and durable resolution of the long-drawn crisis in the Sudan.
According to him, the development further confirmed the credibility of then-African leaders’ resolve to end “the marginalisation of our continent and their ability to take decisive actions to deal with Africa’s persisting problems”.
He said, “A man of principle and commitment, he embodied the virtues of labour. He was accommodating but firm and decisive.
“Under President Moi, Kenya was globally acknowledged as not only a frontline state that had widespread influence in cementing East African countries like Uganda and Tanzania into a coherent trading block, but also one of the few African countries that have served as a beacon of hope for African Renaissance.
“As part of a concerted effort at implementing the New Partnership for African Development, an African initiative in which Nigeria was a leading catalyst, and designed to forge a new partnership among ourselves and between Africa and the international community and one which would serve as an African strategy for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century.
“President Moi facilitated a Summit of Heads of State and Government in his sub-region ahead of the G8 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, from June 26 to 28, 2002 to enable dialogue on NEPAD and to arrive at common objectives and chart the future for the initiative both in his sub-region and Africa as a whole.
“This also enabled Africa to present a unified position at the G8 Summit. Indeed, his commitment, understanding, foresight and willingness to champion the cause of NEPAD cannot go unrecognised.”
He added, “I join the government and the people of Kenya as well as millions of others around the world in mourning a man, who, in his very eventful political life, did much to shape the political tapestry of not only Kenya, but also that of Africa and, by extension, the world at large.”
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