MANDELA @ 95; CELEBRATE, DON’T AGONISE
Being Text of Tribute to Nelson Mandela
By
COMRADE ISSA AREMU mni
VICE PRESIDENT, NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC)
AT A FITNESS EXERCISE/PRESS CONFERENCE
ORGANISED BY
NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) KADUNA
TO CELEBRATE THE
95TH BIRTHDAY OF NELSON MANDELA
THURSDAY JULY 18, 2013
KADUNA
INTRODUCTION
“I am not sick, I am old” remarked Madiba in Johannesburg late January in year 2011. That was after his admission in a Johannesburg hospital for some “specialized tests”. Undoubtedly the former South African President had faced a number of health challenges in recent times, notably “respiratory infections”. Health challenges are certainly not unconnected to the condition at the notorious Robben Island prison in the 1980s, where the legendary leader contracted tuberculosis. This nonetheless, Mandela’s remark two years ago remains a worthy reminder that a man in his 90s is definitely not young even if not hunted by any affliction.
Nelson Mandela turns 95 today, 18th of July. The occasion of Mandela Day (an annual international day commendably adopted by the United Nations) offers an opportunity to reecho the old freedom fighter that he is truly old not necessarily sick. Or better still to remind ourselves that Madiba suffers a natural inevitable illness; old age and those other ailments are mere compliments. This message assumes much relevance today because not few of his millions of admirers (including yours comradely) almost gave in to despair and some agonizing since he was admitted more than a month in the hospital with all the attendant global hysteria. It is ever refreshing to read that Mandela is responding to treatment in a condition that is “critical but stable”. However, the admirers of the global icon must know that immortality is not the way of Nelson Mandela; what matters in the final analysis is Mandela’s deeds. Immortality belongs to God! Lets celebrate his life and not agonize over his failing health. There are as many quotable quotes of Nelson Mandela on the inevitability of death and his preparedness for it perhaps as much as his quotable quotes on life, freedom and liberty.
FREEDOM AND LIBERTY
The famous speech by Nelson Mandela was at the 1964 Rivonia Trial which sentenced him and others to life imprisonment for daring to overthrow the hated apartheid order. That historic speech alluded to the inevitability of death as much as the desirability of freedom and liberty. Witness him; “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 needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” It is a great paradox of fate that though he prepared to die, he indeed actually realized the vision of a free and democratic South Africa though with personal sacrifices of 27 years in prison. Hundreds of thousands killed during apartheid were actually not as ‘lucky” as Nelson Mandela as it was a luck to come alive after what Mandela himself called “wasted” 27 years in prison. In a 1996 Documentary, Mandela said; “Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that efforts and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity“.
OBJECTIVE OF MANDELA DAY
And that is precisely what UN Mandela Day is all about; let’s put up some efforts for our people and country so that we can sleep for eternity. The main objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for public good. Ultimately the day seeks to empower communities everywhere”. At 95 Nelson Mandela even on a sick bed remains a living moral authority with such global outreach that many a canonized saint hardly covered. Let us note that there are scores of retired and even serving Heads of states or “King-kongs” of some states like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe whose birthdays and even health conditions are of no positive relevance to humanity than the cronies around them. What then makes Nelson Mandela special?
NELSON MANDELA’s ENDURING LEGACY
It is remarkable that though Mandela was the President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, he is less remembered for his presidency (which he commendably left after an eventful one term, not third term!). His enduring legacy was his unique ability to forgive those who jailed him for 27 years and for being a symbol of reconciliation in a nation polarized along ethnic, racial and class cleavages. Though South Africa still remains a polarized country, (largely between the rich and the poor) the Mandela brand links all the polarities in the country together and reminds each of the contending elements of the virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness and reconciliation. This is his greatest legacy to South Africa in particular and to humanity in general. Remember Malala the 15 year old Pakistani girl who on October 9, 2012, escaped assassination attempt by the Talibans. She was actually shot “on the left side of her forehead.” Remarkably in her speech to the United Nations last week to mark her 16th birthday, (witnessed by UN Secretary-General and former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown) Malala said she had since forgiven the assassins. According to Malala the inspiration for non-vengeance and compassion comes “…from Muhammad-the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha and…. the legacy of change that she said she inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali Jinnah”.
Malala was not even born when in 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from prison, yet his deeds with respect to forgiveness has captured the imagination of Malala so young!
SERVICE TO HUMANITY
We are enjoined to spend 67 minutes today to do something positive to serve humanity as part of Mandela Day activities today. Some suggested ways to mark Mandela Day include making a new friend, breaking Ramadan fast with your neighbours and getting to know someone from a different cultural background in the knowledge that through mutual understanding we can rid our communities of unacceptable intolerance and xenophobia.
Here at home, it will be reassuring for Nigeria’s democracy if President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers state embrace, truly reconcile and resume statesmanship in the spirit of Nelson Mandela 95th birthday celebration. All these peaceful gestures to serve humanity just within 67 minutes! Happy 95th birthday Madiba!
ISSA AREMU mni
VICE PRESIDENT Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
