Pan African Parliament Holds Memorial Service In Honour Of Bethel Amadi

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on Friday March 8, 2019 held a Memorial Service in honor of the late and former PAP President, Hon. Bethel N. AMADI at the seat of the parliament in MIDRAND, South Africa.

The Very Rev. Xolani Diwati, the Dean of Anglican Archdiocese of Johannesburg assisted by Rev. Clayton Moitsiwa and Pastor Olusola Joseph Dada officiated at the service which was conducted by Mr. Kenneth Akibate, PAP’s Sergeant-at-Arms.

In his opening speech, Mr. Akibate recalled how they received the news of the death of Hon. Amadi on February 10 during the Summit of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and that a minute silence was observed by the Assembly in his honour.

Mr. Akibate also recalled that it was in Ethiopia that the PAP President Hon. Roger Nkodo Dang met with his colleagues at the Bureau and resolved to hold a memorial service in honour of Hon. Amadi during the March Committee Sittings of PAP.

Describing death as an inevitable end that we all must pass through, Mr. Akibate noted that in the case of Hon. Amadi, “he did not go disappointed. He did not go sad and did not go with regrets”. Continuing, Akibate stated that Hon. Amadi died a fulfilled and accomplished man, noting that towards his death, Amadi had accepted the reality and moved closer to his God.

In his tribute, the Acting Clerk of PAP, Mr. Yusuf Jobe observed that despite what could be described as a relatively short life, “The resolve of a person is measured on how you contribute to life, not on how long you lived and we say the man we are celebrating today became a landmark symbol for PAP”.

“Amadi was our Prince because he served his country and continent very well. We still respect him and we will miss him.”

“Born 55 years ago in Nigeria, Amadi passed on in London, United Kingdom, after a long battle with cancer. He trained at the Federal Government College, Warri, and proceeded to the University of Jos where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Law. He attended the Nigerian Law School in Lagos and was called to the bar in 1986”.

“He was first appointed member of PAP in 2007 and was consequently elected First Vice-President of the Continental Parliament”.

“He served as the PAP President between 2012 and 2015.”

The PAP Secretariat underlined Amadi’s strength as a man of “Open door policy”.

“He appreciated everyone and treated all of us equal. He was a leader par-excellence; the continent lost a bright light. He also believed in women empowerment and inclusion of all within the PAP and beyond”.

Hon. Amadi did a lot to for the African continent and his people. Jobe recalled that under Hon. Amadi’s leadership, PAP grew to be a critical pillar of the African Union architecture and praised him for his contributions to the growth of PAP.

In her tribute, Dr. Ndidi Abanno who served as a policy officer under Hon. Amadi, describe him as a humble man who was slow to anger and who saw himself as first amongst equals in dealing with his colleagues. Hon. Amadi treated every one with dignity and respect, and was admired for his intellectual prowess.

Dr. Abanno noted that Hon. Amadi was passionate about the integration of the African continent, the free movement of persons, goods and services across the continent. Hon. Amadi, she said, believed in the vision that informed the establishment of the Pan African Parliament.

Hon. Moustafa El Gendy, a parliamentarian from Egypt who had served as Second Vice President of the PAP from 2012 to 2013 described Hom. Amadi as a brother and friend who cried and laughed together with him during Egypt’s trying time.

In his tribute, a South Sudanese Member of Parliament, Charles Majak Aleer described Amadi as a noble statesman who left the world so early.

“We must always remember that we always gather in two occasions on earth, either in jubilation or grief. Amadi contributed much to our continent and still had more to contribute. He was a great leader, good man and gentleman and indeed we have lost a great man indeed,” he said.

The PAP 4^th Vice-President, Chief Fortune Charumbira described the late Amadi as “a brilliant person, full of intellect”.

Charumbira recalled how Amadi declared during one of PAP’s heated debates that under his watch “PAP will never lose direction. He stood for that and achieved it and unfortunately he is gone, but let us remember that the dead speak through the living so all the testimonies were are hearing today about his good deeds reveal to us his messages as of now.”