Learning from the Icon’s lifestyle
There is a man who sits in the heart
of almost everyone on earth, a man who fought for equality and true democracy.
Even after his stay here on earth, I’m sure generation will forever remember
him. His influence has touched people positively and some analysts call him ‘ground
father of African people’. He is a man who believe in freedom and
responsibilities, a man who can sacrifice his life to fight for equality.
If you google his name, you may be
shocked to see that all the pages on the google search engine are saying
countless positive things about him.
He is a peace maker no wonder he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
He is a peace maker no wonder he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
He was born in July 18, 1918 in the
royal lineage of Thembu dynasty. He was extremely fortunate to become the first
in his family to attend school. His name meant ‘trouble maker’ so, his teacher
called him ‘Nelson’ with the hope that he wouldn’t live to the meaning of his
name.
I know you are already guessing who
this all important icon could be. I’m sure you aren’t guessing badly-he is no
other person than Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. The life style and achievements of
this personality is nothing but great lessons and should guide Nigerian
leaders.
Mandela was born in a Royal lineage
in a country ruled by minority white. His royal lineage undauntedly contributed
to his opportunity to attend school. When he was growing up, blacks were not
given a breathing space in their own country. Mandela could have decided to
enjoy all the privileges he had from his family and forget the majority blacks
who were subjected to penury. But he chose to fight for his people.
His unbearable freedom chant against
the white minority leadership led to his life imprisonment sentence. He stayed
in prison for 27 years but never gave up his course. He was freed from prison
on February 10, 1990 by the newly appointed president F.W. de Klert.
Surprisingly, Mandela continued to fight for equality of all in South Africa.
Four years later, Mandela became the
first democratic elected president of South Africa. What are some of the
qualities Nelson Mandela has that Nigerian leaders should as a matter of a must
emulate?
1. Mandela was never carried away by honour of presidency: Unlike most
of our leaders, Mandela’s office tenure was spent transitioning his country
into democracy and reconciling the racial tensions which had eaten dip into the
system of the country. With his charismatic qualities which are wisdom,
willingness and endurance, he was able to unify a divided nation and healed the
decades of racial pains.
Most of our leaders go into office
after making series of countless promises which I now call cliché and forget
the masses who voted them into power. In fact, our leaders shut their doors
close immediately they step their feet into office, they turn wild and
arrogant, squash the national resources and turn lords over night. This is
because most of our leaders usually feel that they have arrived and everyone
below them can go to hell and born to ashes.
They are easily carried away by the
honours of political offices and easily forget the promises they made when they
were begging for our votes. Their promises are now clichés because I keep
hearing: “I will provide you constant power supply if you vote me into office”,
“I will improve the educational system”, “I will build good roads for you
all,” “education for all” and the rest
of their political clichés.
· 2. Mandela
set an example for others to follow: Unlike the type of leaders we have in
Nigeria, Mandela served in office for just a single term and retired. This was
after he spent 27 years in prison and many years of harassment, and pains.
People were shocked to see him leave office in 1999. I doubt if any Nigerian
leader could do such. The reason Mandela took such a selfless move was to set a
democratic standard for his successors to follow. He was a true leader who
believed in serving as a servant and not like our leaders who act like masters.
The example he set for his
successors contributed immensely to the achievements the country has recorded
in democracy. It was because of the kind of example set by our earlier leaders
that democracy in Nigeria became sick and turned ‘domestic terrorism’.
· 3. Mandela
believed and practised love: One of Mandela’s quotes that have shaped my life
till date is the one he made concerning love:
No
one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his
background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn
to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human
heart than its opposite-Nelson Mandela.
South Africa was sick of racism. The
white really maltreated majority blacks and after the blacks gained freedom,
hatred became order of the day. Hatred lived like a person in the country and
was accompanying people to markets. Hatred was seen everywhere but Mandela used
his philosophy of love to bring love into the country and today, South Africa
can boost of different races living there. It was more difficult managing a
country like South Africa when Mandela came to power than Managing the Nigeria
of today.
Forget the religious and ethnic
differences in Nigeria, if only our leaders can put on the same shoes Mandela
wore, they can use the weapon of love to unite this great country.
· 4. Mandela
was never arrogant: Unlike our leaders, Mandela possessed dynamic personality
and he won the heart of many people all over the world. The world celebrates
him and he is one precious gold Africa can boost of. With all the achievements Mandela recorded, he
flexible, free and never arrogant to everyone.
Nigerian leaders are just arrogant! It’s in Nigeria where a local
government chairman subject his people to fear. It’s in Nigeria where the
person we elected turns and tell us ‘do you know who I am?’It is in Nigeria
where our leaders intimidate us with police men to the point that Nigerians now
live in fear and they have no respect. Mandela was just simple and very humble.
He loved humanity and believes in equality of everyone.
5. Mandela
was patriotic: unlike our own leaders who are just interested in their own
selfish interest, Mandela was very patriotic. Mandela’s actions were just for
the development of his country. He was ready to die for the development of his
country. In one of his sayings, Mandela stated that he has believes in the idea
of everyone including coloured and white to live together in his country.
Mandela defended his idea when he publicly says: ‘It is an idea which I hope to
live for and to achieve. But, if the needs be, it is an idea for which I am
prepared to die”.
Our leaders are
simply interested in the national cake no wonder they live and wine in some of
the best houses around the world, drive escapades, throw parties and squash
money with no pity, earn big each month and swim in countless monthly
allowances.
If our leaders are really interested
in a united and developed Nigeria, they should learn from the life style of
Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela will forever remain an icon in Africa and all
over the world.
Our leaders should cover their faces for allowing the ship they
drive to sink to the current extent. It’s a shame we have nothing to show for
after 52 years of independence.
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Author: Kingsley the Analist
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