Angola Honours Murtala, Obasanjo, Gambari at 50th Independence Anniversary

 

 

The government of Angola has honoured three eminent Nigerians—late Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; and renowned diplomat, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari—as part of activities marking the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

The awards, presented in Luanda by Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, recognised Nigeria’s decisive role in Angola’s liberation struggle and the country’s enduring commitment to African unity and Pan-African ideals.

Professor Gambari, Nigeria’s longest-serving Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1990–1999), who also served as UN Under-Secretary-General in various capacities, personally attended the event, while former President Obasanjo was unavoidably absent.

General Murtala Mohammed was honoured posthumously for his courageous leadership in 1975, when Nigeria became the first African nation to recognise Angola’s Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) government. His decision, taken in defiance of Cold War pressures and opposition from Western powers, was followed by Nigeria’s $17 million financial support to Angola—an act that earned the country the reputation of Africa’s “moral voice.”

His successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo, further strengthened Nigeria’s relations with Angola by deepening diplomatic and economic cooperation among newly independent African states.

In a moving tribute, Tangyalamba Veloso, President of the Angola–Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, hailed General Murtala Mohammed’s courage and foresight.

“It’s truly a pleasure because in all my speeches I incorporate General Murtala Mohammed for what he did for Angola,” Veloso said, recalling how Nigeria’s intervention helped save Angola from collapse during its independence struggle.

She narrated how Murtala confronted foreign oil companies that threatened to withdraw from Angola, warning them that doing so would also cost them the Nigerian market.

“He told them, if you pull out of Angola and don’t give them back their resources, you will also pull out from Nigeria and lose all your money,” Veloso said, to loud applause.

According to her, that singular act of defiance changed the course of Angola’s history.

“He was the first to provide financial assistance—$17 million—and the first president to recognise Angola as an independent country,” she added.

Observers at the golden jubilee described Angola’s recognition of the three Nigerians as both a heartfelt tribute and a reminder of Nigeria’s historic leadership in Africa’s liberation movements.

During the Cold War, while apartheid South Africa and Western allies backed rival factions, Nigeria stood firmly with the MPLA and upheld the principle of African self-determination.

President Lourenço noted that the recognition also celebrated Professor Gambari’s long-standing contributions to peace and development across the continent. Gambari, who once served as a UN peace mediator in Angola, was earlier conferred with Angola’s Peace and Development Medal.

As Angola marks 50 years of independence, the honours bestowed on Murtala Mohammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Ibrahim Gambari stand as a powerful reflection of Nigeria’s legacy in Pan-African diplomacy—one built on courage, conviction, and solidarity.

Veloso’s closing words captured the mood of the celebration:

“I incorporate General Murtala Mohammed in all my speeches for what he did for Angola.”

Her remarks not only honoured a hero but also evoked memories of a time when Nigeria’s voice resonated as a beacon of hope and leadership on the African continent.

As Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the UN and later Joint Special Representative of the UN and African Union in Darfur, Professor Gambari played a key role in implementing peace initiatives in Angola following the Lusaka Protocol.

He supervised the peace accord’s implementation, coordinated humanitarian support for displaced persons, and promoted post-conflict reconstruction through institution-building and human rights advocacy.

His exemplary service earned him commendation from the late UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, who in 2003 praised his “tireless efforts and exemplary dedication” to the cause of peace and development in Angola.

Professor Gambari, a former Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, remains one of Africa’s most respected voices in diplomacy and conflict resolution.