I felt pained that I'm a Nigerian in this
generation of looters after reading what
Mandela said about us:
"You know I am not very happy with Nigeria. I
have made that very clear on many occasions.
Yes, Nigeria stood by us more than any nation,
but you let yourselves down, and Africa and
the black race very badly. Your leade rs have
no respect for their people. They believe that
their personal interests are the interests of the
people. They take people’s resources and turn
it into personal wealth.
"There is a level of poverty in Nigeria that
should be unacceptable. I cannot understand
why Nigerians are not angry than they are...
“What do young Nigerians think about your
leaders and their country and Africa? Do
you teach them history? Do you have
lessons on how your past leaders stood by
us and gave us large amounts of money?
You know I hear from Angolans and
Mozambicans and Zimbabweans how your
people opened their hearts and their homes
to them. I was in prison then, but we know
how your leaders punished western
companies who supported Apartheid.
“What about the corruption and the crimes?
Your elections are like wars. Now we hear
that you cannot be president in Nigeria
unless you are Muslim or Christian. Some
people tell me your country may break up.
Please don’t let it happen.
“Let me tell you what I think you need to
do. You should encourage leaders to emerge
who will not confuse public office with
sources of making personal wealth. Corrupt
people do not make good leaders . Then you
have to spend a lot of your resources for
education.
"Educate children of the poor, so that they
can get out of poverty. Poverty does not
breed confidence. Only confident people can
bring changes. Poor, uneducated people can
also bring change, but it will be hijacked by
the educated and the wealthy...give young
Nigerians good education. Teach them the
value of hard work and sacrifice, and
discourage them from crimes which are
destroying your image as a good people.”
******* The Great Nelson Mandela (RIP) in
an interview with Nigeria’s Dr Hakeem
Baba-Ahmed’s in 2007 excerpted from an
article, first published in Peoples Daily.
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