Africa and the world was hit with the sad news of the passing of one of the world's most revered and illustrious sons. he whole world was filled with so much grief and sorrow as the news started to spread. Many people thought this was one of the usual hoaxes that the media used to peddle so as to increase their customer base.
But this time the news was true and within some few minutes of Nelson Mandela's passing, the tributes started pouring in. The social media sites such as facebook, twitter, google plus, linkedin etc etc have been awash with tributes from all corners of the earth. These tributes were coming from world leaders, politicians and the ordinary men and women on the streets from Accra to Cape Town and from Moscow to Tehran, etc etc.
Nelson Mandela indeed lived a life of forgiveness, reconciliation and in fact he had forgiveness in his blood. He had to endure torture and humiliation from his captors who did all things possible in their powers to break him down, but Madiba never broke down and also never gave up.
Nelson Mandela was incarcerated on Robben Island for 18 of his 27
years in prison. During this time, he contracted tuberculosis and, as a
black political prisoner, received the lowest level of treatment from
prison workers. However, while incarcerated, Mandela was able to earn a
Bachelor of Law degree through a University of London correspondence
program.
A 1981 memoir by South African intelligence agent Gordon Winter
described a plot by the South African government to arrange for
Mandela's escape so as to shoot him during the recapture; the plot was
foiled by British intelligence. Mandela continued to be such a potent
symbol of black resistance that a coordinated international campaign for
his release was launched, and this international groundswell of support
exemplified the power and esteem that Mandela had in the global
political community.
In 1982, Mandela and other ANC leaders were moved to Pollsmoor
Prison, allegedly to enable contact between them and the South African
government. In 1985, President P. W. Botha offered Mandela's release in exchange for renouncing armed struggle;
the prisoner flatly rejected the offer. With increasing local and
international pressure for his release, the government participated in
several talks with Mandela over the ensuing years, but no deal was made.
It wasn't until Botha suffered a stroke and was replaced by Frederik
Willem de Klerk that Mandela's release was finally announced—on February
11, 1990. De Klerk also unbanned the ANC, removed restrictions on
political groups and suspended executions.
This is the man we are all celebrating and not mourning for Madiba has lived a well fulfilled life. Will our African leaders be ready and willing to live by the ideals of this great man? Posterity will judge us all if we dont honor this great man by emulating his examples and walking in his footsteps. Madiba fare thee well and may our ancestors give you a rousing welcome as you join them, and may God Almighty grant you a resting place in His bosom. The lion of Africa sleeps tonight, God bless Africa.
