There was something fascinating about Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere and Sudan’s Jaafar Numeri.
Nyerere took over Tanganyika peacefully from the British which was a Protectorate after the Germans were disposed from that colony following defeats in the First and Second World Wars by the Victorious Allies.
Nyerere, then ruled Tanganyika which later became Tanzania from 1961 to 1985 and handed the reign peacefully to his successor. As for Numeri he took over the sovereignty by using military force and ruled Sudan from 1969 to 1985 and was later overthrown by military power.
When Nyerere relinquished power, his successor realized that during his 24 years’ rule Nyerere did not construct a residence for himself. The Government allowed him to stay at the Palace while constructing a residence for him at the Capital. They even went further by also constructing a residence for him at his place of birth. He later died at his village.
As for Jaafar Numeri of Sudan, one of the emirates in the Gulf States after realizing that he didn’t build a house for himself, sent some millions of US$s Dollar. Numeri subsequently instructed the Minister of Finance to deposit that amount to the Public Treasury. His argument was that if he had not been the President of Sudan that benevolent ruler would have not known him. Therefore, he argued that it is the money of the Sudanese people and not his money.
After his overthrow, the new rulers tested his honesty by sending a team to London to investigate his assets there. They specifically investigated the ownership of the building which was the Office of Sudan Ambassador to UK. To their disappointment after reaching the United Kingdom, they were surprised to find out that it was written at the Land Registry Office, as a property of the Sudan Government.
Numeri, later on died at his father’s home and no at his home.
Those two different leaders did make their mark, in different countries, under different circumstances. But, with one objective in their minds – that was nationalism. Is there a person who doubts the Nationalism of those two leaders? I am eager to know. End
Joseph Ring Lang
Email: josephlang2020@gmail.com or langjr2002@yahoo.com