Apartheid is among the greatest crimes in human
history. During the times it thrived, those who challenged it, like those who
questioned colonialism, were branded terrorists.
All sorts of words were
invented by the oppressors to castigate those who they thought posed a danger
to the status-quo and to their enjoyment.
Nelson
Rolihlahla Mandela did not choose his circumstances,
rather the circumstances
chose him. Like people of his generation, he had no option than to fight for
his freedom against a brutal system that threatened to take away his human
dignity. The humanity of people like Mandela was questioned in their native
South Africa. From the onset, Madiba, as he is popularly called, was never in
two minds that his destiny was to fight in every possible way to free himself
and his people. And this was what he did for the most part of his life, at the
expense of his personal life. He fought to give a life to black South Africans.
In the
famous Rivonia trial in 1964, instead of testifying, Mandela stubbornly opted
to give a speech rather. That speech lasted four hours to the chagrin of the
court. He ended by saying: “During
my lifetime, I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I
have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black
domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society, in
which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is
an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an
ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
He never
wavered; he never compromised. He fought for those ideals and he was
victorious. Apartheid was crushed. South Africans became free in their own
country and voted for the first time in 1994 in an election that put the icing
on Mandela’s long tortuous fight and journey to freedom and victory against
oppression and repression. He became South Africa’s first black president with
a massive landslide victory in the first democratic election.
Mandela’s
victory came at a heavy price. Essentially, he sacrificed his life so that his
people can be free. He turned down all conditional offers of release. To him,
the total freedom of black South Africans was not negotiable. His life never
mattered more to him. According to him: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what
difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the
significance of the life we lead.”
The struggle
cost him his youth and the golden ages they say begin at forty. It deprived him
his family life, including seeing his children grow up. Above all, it cost him
his marriage to his ex-wife, Winnie, who stood by him and was the voice of the
struggle in those years Mandela was incarcerated at Robin Island. Nevertheless,
he was never bitter against his tormentors and jailers. At his inauguration in
1994 as president, Mandela looked them straight in the eye as they sat at the
front row and offered them a genuine hand of forgiveness and reconciliation.
And it was very genuine. Herein lies the enigma called Nelson Mandela. What
kind of a man would forgive those who tucked him away in prison for 27 years of
his life? 27 years. Not 27 days; not 27 weeks and certainly not 27 months.
Twenty-seven punishing years!
Only an
extraordinary man would do that. Mandela was one. He was a man of extraordinary
compassion, generosity and forgiveness. As aptly put by US President, Barack
Obama: “He achieved more than could be expected of any man.” Notwithstanding,
Mandela was humble and magnanimous even in his victories, which he loved to
share with others, including those he defeated. At that 1994 inauguration,
Mandela was seen been more interested in raising high the hand of F.W de Clerk
– a kind of saying that it was also a victory for him.
Nobody in
life has done what Mandela did. However, he achieved all that with amazing
grace and infectious humour, side by side the capacity to acknowledge his
imperfections. This adds to make him more amazing. Once the great Madiba said, "I'm not a saint unless you think of a
saint as a sinner who keeps on trying." This was the modesty
that typified and never left him despite all exemplary achievements and
victories.
Madiba was
one of the few African leaders who recognised that power should only be used to
improve the lives of the people who conferred it. He is one of a kind and
unfortunately there is no else like him among former or present day African
leaders. And none is willing to imitate or draw inspiration from him.
Mandela
inspired the world. I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration
from his life. I still remember vividly my excitement when he came to my
University, University of Lagos shortly after he was released from prison in
1990. As an undergraduate I was already political conscious. His story made me
more political conscious. Since then, I have tried to fight other people’s
fight and to give voice to the voiceless. Thank you Madiba!
As British
Prime Minister, David Cameron rightly said: "one of the brightest lights
of our world has gone out. Nelson Mandela was not just a hero of our time, but
a hero of all time.” To me, from the perspective of humanity, Mandela was the
greatest man that ever lived on planet Earth.
Madiba, your
life of service was a burning flame that provided light, love, hope and freedom
for all. We thank you Madiba. Fare thee well!
By Charles
Ofoji
Sahara Reporters
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