Tanzanians have been enjoined to uphold their country’s unity and not derail from the part of greatness as Tanzania celebrates its sixtieth anniversary.
The charge was given by Reverend Father Robert Ochega at an Interfaith Prayers organized by the Tanzanian High commission in Abuja, Nigeria in thanks-giving for sixty years of the country’s unity.
The Interfaith Prayers also featured prayers for the past and present leaders of both Tanzania and Nigeria, as well as the armed forces who have given their lives in defense of their countries.
Reverend Father Robert Ochega called on Tanzanians to be steadfast in the sustenance of Tanzania’s unity.
“for sixty years of independence, you have shown yourself to be immune to the coup epidemic that has ravaged most African countries. Do not take such state of affairs for granted and never that God made it all possible. For it doesn’t take much time for all of that to go away, for one bad leader might just be enough”.
While welcoming guest to the occasion, the Tanzanian High commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Bensen Alfred Bana said that the Tanzanian sixtieth independence anniversary was unique because the country has enjoyed sixty years of uninterrupted unity.
“nation building is not an easy task, particularly on the African continent. Tanzania is a nation state which has so far not experienced inter-nation conflict, no interrupted civilian rule or constitutional order. We are here today to thank the almighty Allah for enabling Tanzania preserve its core values of freedom, unity, peace, security, development, and the common language, Kiswahili”.
The guest of honor and the Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen in her address, commended the situation in Tanzania including having the only sitting female president in all of Africa.
She called on all Africans to emulate Tanzania’s peaceful sixty years of democracy and give women a chance at governance in Africa.
“It is clear that her coming into power as President of Tanzania is by divine providence and I call on all well-meaning Africans to take this as a divine arrangement to show case Tanzania, being one of the peaceful African countries. Since independence they have not experienced any coup and as they clocked sixty, God decided to give them a mother”.
The Interfaith Prayer which is part of a five day of events leading up to the Independent celebration on the 9th of December, had in attendance ambassadors of other African countries in Nigeria, clergy from both the Christian and Muslim faith.
Hauwa Mustapha
