Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has described the late Nelson Madela as a man who raised the beacon of human struggle to lofty heights of nobility.
Obasanjo, who addressed journalists in his home in Abeokuta on Friday, said Mandela’s life was an example of what people should all aspire for.
“In all situations, he lived nobly and died in nobility. Let us bear in mind that we all have the opportunity to act nobly in whatever position we find ourselves,” he added.
He described Mandela’s death as a monumental loss to all human races and called on all to emulate the life and times of the great leader.
“His demise is a loss to his family who will miss a caring patriarch; the people of South Africa who will miss a guide, Africa who will miss a role model and the world who will miss a leader.
“When we teach our children lessons for tomorrow, let us remember lessons Mandela gave the world in forgiveness and forbearance,’’ Obasanjo said.
Obasanjo, who eulogising Mandela, recalled the times when he was voted to become South-Africa’s post-apartheid president.
“During the first non-racial democratic elections in 1994, I was on election observation assignment in South Africa and was there for his campaign and when he cast his vote.
“He was devoid of bitterness or anger against anybody except the hated apartheid system.
“He went on to win the election and more importantly led South Africa to the extent that the country was able to cast aside its apartheid legacy and take its place in comity of nations.
“Certain that his task was completed, Mandela modestly refused to seek re-election after his first term in office as his presidency elapsed.
“I still recall his pragmatic words when he said to me ‘Olu, show me a place in the world where a man of 80 years is running the affairs of his country.
“This, to me, reflects an unequalled sense of modesty for a man who spent 27 of the prime years of his life in prison for a just cause.
“Yet he still kept a calm and peaceful disposition to those who took away his freedom for all those years of his life,’’ he explained. (NAN) Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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See who's talking, you can't even be modest in your house let alone your country. You were planning for a 3rd tenure of ruin in Nigeria. Please go to your farm jor....mtchewwz
ReplyDeleteSo Papa u know that and you were looking for third term? You were old enough to retire from active politics and public event, yet u didn't. Until now u are still behaving god, when will the young ones rule this country? May Mandela's life challenge you to leave behind an enduring legacy for Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteSo this means u are a direct opposite of Mendela, please u can still change ur ways...
ReplyDeleteA man whom the whole world is celebrating shows he did great things which i think can be emulated and replicated put your self in the line the same victory song will be sang for you.
ReplyDeleteAll you pple hurling abuses on Obasanjo am sure if your fathers has d opportunity to be in Obasanjo's shoes even your forefathers am sure they wouldn't have done better than the man. Am sure none of you can control your home successfuly talk-less of running such a country like Nigeria. Obasanjo has tried on his own,let your forefathers come out and see what they van do.
ReplyDeleteI feel so sad for you
DeleteGo hug transformer....mumu
ReplyDeleteU cant control ur own house u are talking of another person
ReplyDeleteHw do u knw someone else can't control their house? If you find controlling your own house an impossible task, don't assume that is how it is for everybody. The main excuse low minds like u always have for leadership incompetence, greed and failure is always this talk of "controlling a house vis a vis nigeria". So when you consider people like the great Mandela and other great leaders pple frm another planet. Leadershipr is not all about "control", its about positive influence and enduring leagacies. Qualities you and OBJ can neva understand, talk less of possess.
DeleteNIGERIAN LEADERS, PAST AND PRESENT AS OVER THE YEARS SHOWNED THEIR IRRESPONSIBILITY AND SHAMELESNESS. HOW CAN A MAN(OBASANJO) WHO HAD A GOLDEN OPPORTUNIITY TO EMULATE MADIBA(ALTHOUGH HE
ReplyDeleteOBASANJO NEVER FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM ETC, BUT CAME OUT OF PRISON TO THE PALACE) BUT BLEW IT UP. I THINK OBJ IS THE TOTAL OPPOSITE
OF WHAT MANDELA REPRESENT BOTH TO THE WORLD AND HIS COUNTRY. OBJ AT HIS AGE IS STILL SCATTERING NIGERIA POLITICS. YOU CAN'T SAY, THIS IS WHERE HE IS. AM SURE, MADIBA WOULD HAVE SLAPPED HIM IF HE COULD COME BACK FROM THE MORGUE. NIGERIA CAN NEVER CELEBRATE OBJ, 0.10% OF HOW SOUTH AFRICA IS CELEBRATING MADIBA'S DEATH.
FORGIVENESS IS THE MESSAGE. ACCORDING TO THE GRACE GIVEN TO HIM, HE HAS SHATTERED THE TOTAL DOMINANCE OF THE HAUSA/FULANI OLIGARCHY IN NIGERIAN POLITICS. ONE DAY WE SHALL SEE THE GOOD HE HAS DONE. EVERY LEADER HAS A PECULIAR CALL AND ASSIGNMENT. IF U DON'T UNDERSTAND HIM, FORGIVE HIM.
ReplyDeleteSo sad the same will never be said about you at your death. U shouldn't have said anything.
ReplyDeleteI felt so sad that OBJ missed the opportunity to be celebrated like Mandela because of mundane things...its really so sad that no one can set moral standards for this caused nation....
ReplyDeleteApart 4rm seeking 3rd OBJ really transformed Nigeria telecommunications and banking sector, he is a good leader gbam!!!!
ReplyDeleteNa wa O! Nigerians with their comments. No matter how good. You are, you can't please all and no matter how bad you are, you'll still be good to some. May Allah guide us unto the right path and give us good leaders.
ReplyDeleteNigerians will never celebrate any of their leaders & dat is d bane of this country. How many of those critising can even rule their family, company, organisation or even church/mosque well.
ReplyDeleteSleep well N. Mandela. Nigerians shuld learn from this man including those commenting here cos if by mistake ur account is credited u will not return the money. OBJ is not God. He tried on his own part. Let another person try his own part. He may not be close to Mandela in any way but he is still one of Nigeria best. To others what will pple talk abut u at ur exit? Lets do away with poverty of the mind. God bless nigerians and the leaders. Shola Anes.
ReplyDelete