« À 15 ans, mon père m’écrivait depuis la prison » : Syndiély Wade raconte la lettre qui a marqué sa vie
On the centenary of former President Abdoulaye Wade, celebrated this Thursday in Dakar, his daughter Syndiély Wade delivered a moving and heartfelt tribute on behalf of the family. Addressing the authorities of the Republic, diplomatic and religious representatives, and numerous guests, she chose to speak not of him as a head of state or politician, but of the father she knew intimately within the family. She began by expressing the family's gratitude to the Senegalese people for the loyalty, affection, and support shown to Abdoulaye Wade throughout his life. She paid tribute to those who stood by him during his long years of struggle in the opposition, and later during his presidency. "You supported him during the long years of fighting in the opposition for the establishment and consolidation of democracy in our country. You were with him in difficult times as well as in times of victory," she recalled. But it was above all the man behind the public figure that she wished to emphasize. According to her, Abdoulaye Wade was always deeply committed to others and driven by a sincere love for his country. Despite the hardships and responsibilities, he maintained unwavering faith in humanity and in the future. "My brother, my mother, and I lived alongside a man whose life belonged, in part, to the nation. We often shared his presence with Senegal, his concerns with those of millions of compatriots," she confided. Syndiély Wade also expressed her gratitude to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye for placing this celebration under his high patronage. A gesture she considers a mark of republican respect for a former head of state and a sign of democratic maturity.
Speaking about the education she received from her father, she emphasized the values he instilled in her: hard work, perseverance, courage in the face of adversity, a sense of duty, and love for Senegal. These principles, she said, continue to guide her life. The most poignant moment of her speech was undoubtedly the recollection of a personal memory from 1988. That year, while Abdoulaye Wade was imprisoned following post-election tensions, she was only fifteen years old. "I remember a letter he wrote to me during that time. Unfortunately, that letter is now lost, but its message remains intact," she recounted, her voice filled with emotion.
In this correspondence, her father explained to her the profound meaning of his political commitment and the conviction that had always driven him: to consider every Senegalese person as one of his own children. "This idea has stayed with me throughout my life and has allowed me to understand his journey," she explained. For Syndiély Wade, the centenary of the former president transcends the tribute paid to a political figure. Above all, it celebrates a special bond between a leader and his people, forged through shared struggles, hopes, and hardships.
Wade's daughter expressed her hope that Abdoulaye Wade's legacy would continue to inspire future generations and that the greatest tribute that could be paid to him would be to serve Senegal "in unity, dignity, and hard work." "Work, work some more, always work," she reminded everyone, echoing one of her father's most emblematic phrases. For the Wade family, this day marks both a moment of pride and gratitude towards all the Senegalese who stood by the former president throughout a century of history, convictions, and service to the country.
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