Nelson Mandela, Unusual African Leader

It will be out of place if I fail to commemorate a gem ever lived on the African soil. A leader with difference, who possessed the following attributes:

• Perseverance in the face of hopeless situation.
• Love for his people and was ready to die for what he believed.
• Selflessness in the service to his people.
• Forgiveness in practical terms.
• Contentment which Bible described as a great gain.

We can go on and on rolling out uncommon qualities amongst African leaders which Madiba Mandela possessed.

I was but a little child when we watched over and over again a film titled Sarafina, if I still remember correctly, which we were told was a true experience in S. A. As a matter of fact, we used Sarafina to learn how to watch films. We saw what an oppressor looks like and the hopelessness of the oppressed.

In the high school, we read a poem titled "Night Fall in Soweto" authored by Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali. Oh my literature teacher did very well in interpreting the poem to us as students in a remote country-side. The socio-economic and political experience of South Africa in relation to apartheid policy was aptly painted by Oswald.

I grew up to study Public Administration in which I learnt more about apartheid policy in S. A which Nigeria and O.A.U fought tooth and nail to dismantle. My study opened my eyes to what really happened in S. A.
Someone will think S. A can not live in peace today. Every Nigerian will believe that with change of government that brought in Nelson Mandela as the president, the remains of the white will litter all the streets the following day after Nelson had been sworn in. Of course, we have that experience here in Nigeria. After the counter coup of July 1966, over 30,000 bodies of Igbos littered the street of the northern Nigeria in retaliation of the previous coup tagged Igbo coup in which only the northern and Western politicians were killed.

Thanks to Nelson Mandela, I call him the bridge of peace between the minority whites and majority blacks. The story had it that when Nelson won the general election, the whites wanted to leave believing he will retaliate for offences and injustices meted on him and his fellow blacks. However, the unusual happened, the reason I call him the unusual African leader. He, Nelson Madiba Mandela, announced in the public that he had forgiven all that offended him. He called for an inclusive government. He opened his hands to all, whites and blacks, believing that new S. A can be built if they pull together their diversity. Indeed it happened. The combination of white and black ideologies made S. A to overtake Nigeria, in terms of deepened democracy and delivery of dividence of democracy in just a decade after the end of apartheid.

May I announce to you that South Africa is what it is today because of this singular act of Nelson Mandela. His ability to forgive, allowing the whites to retain their key positions, building bridges of reconciliation put S. A in the path of development.

Today, the minority whites have used their technology know-how to improve S. A and its economy. This contrasts with the experience in Zimbabwe where the whites left and their properties were handed over to the indigen blacks. Without disprect to the Zimbabweans, today, we know the state of Zimbabwean economy. Pathetic? Like my country Nigeria? Your guess is as good as mine.

Nelson Mandela shocked me again when I learnt that he refused to accept or go for second tenure as a president. I can't fathom that out.
Is Nelson Mandela a British where Prime Minister Cameron resigned because he lost in referendum or an American where National adviser, Michael Flynn resigned? No, we don't resign here in Africa. He didn't know? We hold unto power. We rather die in power. It is our fathers heritage.

However, Nelson Mandela refused an opportunity to remain in the corridor of power. He wanted another to try. He is an unusual African leader, indeed. He must be an American or a Brit.

Most baffling is what his faith is. Honestly, I do not know if he was a Christian or Muslim or any other. Someone said that he was an atheist. Is that true? If it is not, is he a traditional worshipper? Hmm If Nelson Mandela was an atheist, shame to Nigerian Christian and Muslim leaders. Shame to them again. They are disgrace to humanity and all Christian and Muslim faithfuls.

What else will I say?

Continue resting in peace Madiba
Continue resting in peace Nelson Mandela
May this upcoming generation follow your examples

I did this to commemorate the unusual African leader ever lived, not to disrespect anyone.

Pictures sourced from: https://goo.gl/images/