MANDELA "TRUELY A TROUBLEMAKER...... It was neither 27 seconds nor 27 minutes. It was distanced from 27 days let alone 27 hours. There is a reasonable difference between 27 weeks and 27 months, with the little I had experienced in life 27 years is still a bit far from my age. Not to talk of someone spending 27 years in prison for the social, economic, and democratic freedom of his people. He is an icon, a praise, a hope, a patriot, a motivation, a living legend and he is no one than the first South African black president, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. A first sight of him dated back when Banfana Banfana, the South African football national team hosted the super eagles of Nigeria in a one legged international friendly match in 2004. I had no prior knowledge about the match but sensed the unusual euphoria, zeal and enthusiasm displayed by every living being in Johannesburg that very evening. It was as if Banfana Banfana had become the first African Country to get to the final of world cup to describe the level of their elation. Not until a grey – haired, old man full of life, walked graciously, waving his right hand with his escorts into the stadium and was welcomed with an unmatched encomium compared to the then president of South Africa, Thabo Nbeki. I was dumbfounded and curious to know the whys and the wherefores behind the enormous compliments given to him. Let me brief those who could probably be ignorant of his achievements to know why he is being idolised, and those who must have known, and being jealous of his admiration, and often say “Na only him, he is 95years already, make him go die self”. For, to paraphrase Sir Ahmadu Bello, “I would have a non-Nigerian do a job than a non-northerner”. But in the contradictory planet of Nelson Mandela, he dedicated his entire life for struggle and unification of human races. He made service to humanity his utmost priority and public interest litigation the peak on his scale of preference. In his words “I have fought against white domination and I have fought against Black domination. I cherished the idea of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an idea which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an idea for which I am prepared to die”. An African Nationalist, a democratic socialist and a pacifist who fought non-violently and defiantly against the then ruling party of South Africa- the National Party, to abolish the governing political policy of apartheid. Apartheid, a policy, a racial division in South Africa in between the governing white minority population and the non-white majority population introduced after the victory of the national party in 1948. The laws classified people according to the four major racial groups- white, Black, coloured, and Indians in South Africa. It determined where member of each group could live, the jobs they could hold and the type of education they could receive. It prohibited most social contacts, authorized segregated public facilities, and denied any representation of non-white in the National Government. This ignited Nelson Mandela’s passion who had previously been interested in African Culture and strongly detested racism when his headmaster in secondary school gave superiority of English culture and Government over African culture. He was inspired by Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King non-violent civil activism, demonstrated pacifism in dismantling this legacy of racial segregation. He became actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement. Joining the African National Congress in 1942, he fought against the policy pacifistically for about 20 years including the 1952 Defiance Campaign and the 1955 Congress of the people. He and 150 others were arrested and charged with treason for their political Advocacy but were finally acquitted. Nelson Mandela believed the pacifist method would not be effective and joined the group of Black Activists, Pan – Africanism, believing armed struggle could be the only way to achieve changes and jointly founded Umkhonto we Sizwe (spear of the nation) known as MK, an armed offshoot of the ANC dedicated to sabotage and guerilla war tactics to end apartheid. This time, he and 10 others were arrested, charged for sabotage, violently trying to overthrow South Africa government and were sentenced to life imprisonment. He was imprisoned in Robben Island for 18 years and was treated under the worst and lowest condition being a black activist by the white prison warders. Nelson being a man of determination, courage and will, he was able to earn a bachelor of law degree through university of London correspondence programme while he was still in captivity. In 1982. Mandela and other ANC leaders were moved to Pollsmoor Prison, allegedly to enable contact between them and the South Africa government. While in Pollsmoor, he was allowed to work in a lime quarry but not permitted to wear sunglasses, which made the glare of the lime permanently damaged his eyesight and was severally locked in confinement for processing smuggled clippings and only permitted to one visit and one letter in every six months. He was moved to victor verster prison 1988 in improving condition compared to Robben Island and Pollsmoor. Luis Botha, the then president of South Africa offered him a release on condition that he “unconditionally reject violence as a political weapon”. Nelson Mandela rejected the offer, releasing a statement that “what freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned”. Luis Botha suffered a stroke retaining the presidency for sometimes but later replaced by F.W. de Klerk. F.W. The new president believed that apartheid was unsustainable and unconditionally released all ANC leaders except Mandela because ANC was till banned. He met Mandela, discussing the situation finally, unconditionally and legalising all formally banned politically parties. He left prison on the 11 February, 1990, he gave a speech and declared his commitment to peace and reconciliation with the minority, but made it clear that ANC’s armed struggle was not over and would continue, with a purely defensive action against the violence of apartheid. And remained focused to bring peace to the black majority and give the right to vote both nationally and locally. He continued the negotiation in dismantling apartheid and on 27 April, 1994 South Africa held its first multiracial and democratic election. While Mandela fought for dismantling racial segregation and being celebrated unanimously, our leaders or heroes planted the seed of hatred in every Nigerian by aiding and abetting religious fanaticism and ethnic bigotry for their own political aggrandisement. Now their planted seeds have grown to irremovable trees of hatred in our minds and the country is always faced with one or two forms of ethno-religious violence. So it was not a surprise to me that despite Obafemi Awolowo’s heroism and achievements he could still lose the seat of presidency to a less profile person to him Alhaji Shehu Shagari twice in 1979 and 1982 because he was just a Yoruba leader and never a leader of Nigeria. Likewise no reasonable being from South-west or east would love Sir Ahmadu Bello for his inciting and tribalistic statement. Odumegwu Ojukwu was only celebrated in the east while, Abraham Adesanya was for the Yorubas. Now this people are no more but the odium left still in us, we need to expunge this from our minds, embrace love to have unity so that we can have a peaceful country. Amaru Shakur popularly known as Tupac died in 1996 at 25 and his Albums could probably still sell in the next two generations to come while Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa at 76 and 95 at present which means he had used about 68years of his life for humanity and fruitful 27years in prison .Think about it, can you even use 1minute of your time for service to humanity? No one would be in any prison condition without contracting one or two diseases, he contracted tuberculosis which affected his lungs that has continually kept him in hospitals since his release. Now I know why he is a “Rolihlahla” literally means a “Troublemaker” in Xhosa not for thuggery or robbery but for the benefit of his people. So not a hyperbole, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a heroic figure, an icon per excellece, a praise, an excellence, a courage, an inspiration, a motivation and a God’s gift not only for South Africa but for the world. No wonder many still wants him to leave for another 95years. I also pray for your good health and a speedy recovery and in spite your unparalleled achievements and old age I will still say “ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LONG LIFE AND PROSPERITY”.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 12:46:37 +0000
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