It’s amusing to see the same people who jailed Mandela several years ago falling over themselves to eulogise him at his death. This is not only because he showed in his life time that he is made of better material than all of them put together but also because we Africans allowed them to take centre stage.
Africans always allow Europeans and their American cousins to call the shots. It was Europeans who sent Mandela to jail and the same Europeans released him after he was considered more dangerous locked up than free.
They dismantled apartheid when it became an embarrassment to them.
Now they are the ones telling us Mandela’s life story and all the efforts other African countries, especially Nigeria, played to set him free have been carefully deleted from history.
A wise man once said, “history is merely a piece of fiction written by the Victors”.
When Mandela left prison a wiser and more matured man than when he was thrown into jail he confounded his captors who quickly switched gears and became his best friends.On the other hand, a disappointed Mandela was hoping to find an independent Africa with progressive leadership but what he discovered was that most African countries were actually in a worse state than they were under colonial leadership when he went to jail.
It was only natural for him to become best friends with the same people who jailed him especially after he discovered that the economies of most African countries were still tied to the apron strings of their former colonial masters.
If Nelson Mandela died with any regrets it’s probably the fact that he was the only African leader that Europeans and Americans had any respect for.
Take for instance his memorial service where America’s president was given centre stage to read an eulogy. President Jonathan was at the same memorial service but no major media organisation acknowledged his presence.
Yeah, nobody acknowledged the presence of Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Mandela’s memorial.
Nobody remembers that Nigeria spent millions of Dollars to support the African National Congress (ANC) members in exile.
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| President Jonathan |
Nigerian passports were issued to opponents of the apartheid regime so that they could travel around the world and drum support for release of Nelson Mandela and dismantle apartheid when the South African government wouldn’t issue them passports.
For several years, Nigerian Civil Servants were contributing a part of their salaries to support the struggle against apartheid.
What we got paid in return is not appreciation but a complete airbrush from history and it’s not because Mandela and South Africans are ungrateful but because they are too ashamed to associate themselves with our leaders.
Mandela would sooner travel to a country where there is stable power supply and security; make friends with Clinton and Blair, who were held accountable to the people they governed, than hang around those who would treat him like a god while oppressing the people who elected them to office.
Mandela would rather associate himself with a country where a cabinet minister resigned over accusations he insulted Policemen on duty than hang around a President who refused to sack a minister facing legislative probe for spending $1.5 million dollars on bullet proof luxury cars.
Madiba avoided Africa because the state of affairs in so many African countries reminded him of how black South Africans were treated by white South African only worse because it’s now black Africans oppressing other black Africans.
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| Former leaders of the United States |
The same way he realised that the way forward for South Africa was forgiveness and reconciliation he also realised that the sensible thing to do was to fraternise with the people who jailed him and not the profligate and corruption ridden African leadership.
We pushed “our” Mandela back into the arms of his jailers even after he had been set free from a physical prison because he realised that African leaders may be parading themselves around in luxury cars and private jets but they were still ideologically imprisoned.
Since he didn’t want to go back to any kind of prison he aligned himself with those who put him in jail because they did not only set him free from a physical prison they also had the power to set him free from the ideological prison that other African leaders were still trapped in.
They are now the ones re-writing Mandela’s life story and thanks to our leaders our children will probably never know the role we played in setting him free from jail and South Africa from an evil political system. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I'm not sure I agree with the insinuations of the writer that Mandela preferred the whites and westerners to his brothers. Mandela had an open heart towards both black and white, Africans and westerners alike. He fought against the two common forms of racism: racism of whites over blacks, and racism of blacks over whites. He wanted all to unite in love as one. But I agree with the insinuations that Mandela would be ashamed of some of our African leaders, key among whom is our own GEJ that seems to be leading this craft called Nigeria straight for the rocks.
ReplyDeleteThe whole world stood still for a man who fought for the liberation of his own people from the shackle of apartheid.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, Nigeria contributed immensely towards dismantling of that terrible political system. But what are our leaders doing for their own people in Nigeria? Cahrity begins at home.The great Madiba is certainly disappointed.
May we Nigerians help our selves.
More of that guys
ReplyDeleteWhat's Nigeria's problem or business with Mandela? What's this obsession with Mandela in Nigeria? Mandela was a creation of the West and they decided to make him their god, what is our business with that? If they are worshiping him as their new god, what is our problem with that? Nigeria and Nigerians fought to bring down apartheid and not to elevate Mandela, we achieved our aim, we should be proud of that, we should hold our heads high on that, not to be crying on Mandela. That is nonsense, Nigeria is too big for this type of cries. Let them do what they need with Mandela, our records against tyranny in South Africa is indelible. If they want to worship Mandela because he forgave them their atrocity, so be it. We should concentrate on Nigeria, Africa and our struggles. White people just wanted something to hang their shame and guilt on, and they found that in Mandela.
ReplyDeleteRather than whining, why don't u compose, publish a book extolling the virtues and contributions of Africa and Africans to Mandela's existence. Airbrush the whiteman likewise. Controvert the whiteman's claims; earn your applause globally by creating a Pan-African perspective, otherwise you are equally guilty of Mandela's preference to associate with his jailors. No one author can cover the full gamut of angles in history. Africanize Mandela's history.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I completely support the South African government for not giving GEJ the chance to pay tribute to a man like Nelson Mandela. Our present day leaders must come to understand that they owe we Nigerians a lot for electing them in the first place. They must also understand that they weren't elected to lord over us but to serve us. GEJ and our present day leaders don't deserve to be appreciated by South Africans for whatever assistance our past leaders gave to Nelson Mandela and his colleagues during the fight against apartheid in South Africa. I don't think any sane government would allow someone who doesn't represent any iota of what Mandela stood for to pay tribute to such a great man. Charity they say begins at home. If GEJ and his comrades want some respect out there, they should start by giving Nigerians the respect we deserve. Sometimes I wonder if these wolves we call leaders listen and get the message from our national anthem. RIP Nelson Mandela, you've really been a source of encouragement and motivation to countless young people. Your good deeds shall be remembered forever on earth. You have fought a good fight and I pray you find favour in the eyes of the LORD. Rest in peace Madiba my friend and hero.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I completely support the South African government for not giving GEJ the chance to pay tribute to a man like Nelson Mandela. Our present day leaders must come to understand that they owe we Nigerians a lot for electing them in the first place. They must also understand that they weren't elected to lord over us but to serve us. GEJ and our present day leaders don't deserve to be appreciated by South Africans for whatever assistance our past leaders gave to Nelson Mandela and his colleagues during the fight against apartheid in South Africa. I don't think any sane government would allow someone who doesn't represent any iota of what Mandela stood for to pay tribute to such a great man. Charity they say begins at home. If GEJ and his comrades want some respect out there, they should start by giving Nigerians the respect we deserve. Sometimes I wonder if these people we call leaders listen and get the message from our national anthem. RIP Nelson Mandela, you've really been a source of encouragement and motivation to countless young people. Your good deeds shall be remembered forever on earth. You have fought a good fight and I pray you find favour in the eyes of the LORD. Rest in peace Madiba my friend and hero.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I completely support the South African government for not giving GEJ the chance to pay tribute to a man like Nelson Mandela. Our present day leaders must come to understand that they owe we Nigerians a lot for electing them in the first place. They must also understand that they weren't elected to lord over us but to serve us. GEJ and our present day leaders don't deserve to be appreciated by South Africans for whatever assistance our past leaders gave to Nelson Mandela and his colleagues during the fight against apartheid in South Africa. I don't think any sane government would allow someone who doesn't represent any iota of what Mandela stood for to pay tribute to such a great man. Charity they say begins at home. If GEJ and his comrades want some respect out there, they should start by giving Nigerians the respect we deserve. Sometimes I wonder if these people we call leaders listen and get the message from our national anthem. RIP Nelson Mandela, you've really been a source of encouragement and motivation to countless young people. Your good deeds shall be remembered forever on earth. You have fought a good fight and I pray you find favour in the eyes of the LORD. Rest in peace Madiba my friend and hero.
ReplyDelete