Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed condolences to the Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, following the death of her husband, Hafidh Ameir Hassan.
Hafidh Ameir, Tanzania’s first Gentleman, died on Monday, September 7, while receiving treatment for a heart condition at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Zanzibar.
In a condolence message contained in a press statement by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, he described the late Hafidh Ameir as Tanzania’s first Gentleman who “carved a unique path in the country’s history”, noting that he remained largely outside the political spotlight while supporting his wife throughout her public service career.
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The former Nigerian leader said the late First Gentleman chose a life of humility and dedication as an agricultural academic, providing his family with stability and support while his wife rose through Tanzania’s political leadership.
“Rather than seeking the noisy glare of the political spotlight, the late First Gentleman remained a humble and dedicated agricultural academic, choosing to anchor his wife and family with quiet grace,” Obasanjo said.
He noted that Hafidh Ameir had stood by President Samia for decades, long before she assumed the presidency.
He describes his death as not only a personal loss to the President and her children but also a loss to the wider East African community.
Obasanjo said the news of the death was received with “deep sense of shock and profound sorrow”, extending his condolences, on behalf of his family, to President Samia, her children and the entire bereaved family.
He prayed for eternal rest for Hafidh Ameir, divine comfort for the bereaved family, and that the Tanzanian President would find strength in the legacy of peace, dignity and steadfast support left by her husband.
“We take solace in knowing that he lived a meaningful life and left behind a wonderful family that continues to contribute meaningfully to public life and society,” Obasanjo added.
