Keep the Mandela ideals alive

Nigerians joined the rest of the global community on Wednesday, July 18 to celebrate this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day or Mandela Day throwing up a lot of challenges to the nation’s nay Africa’s leadership. The year’s event marks the centenary (100 years) of Mandela’s birth.
The Mandela Day is observed every year on July 18 every year across the globe on the great revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist birthday. This day remembers Mandela’s contribution to the culture of peace, human right, reconciliation and freedom.
The United Nations declared Mandela Day on November 10, 2009. The declaration was unanimous mainly for two good reasons: First, to pay tributes to a charismatic leader – “a giant of history”, and second, to advance Mandela’s ambitious campaign – fashioning the “world a better place” for everybody.
Mandela, the Nobel laureate for Peace, served as the President of South Africa during 1994-1999 and led the transition of the country to democracy, freedom and justice. He established the Nelson Mandela Institute for Rural Development and Education in 2007.
Mandela Day is a global call highlighting Mandela’s core ideals and beliefs. It is an important occasion for every individual for carrying out humane activities and inspiring change towards a better life and better world. Mandela, a “profoundly good human being” as described by former US President Barack Obama, fought for democracy, human dignity, equality and rule of law. The UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/13 had acknowledged Nelson Mandela’s values and his services to humanity. These are: reconciliation, protection of human rights, equality, and drive against poverty, and promotion of social justice.
Mandela believed that every person has the responsibility and power to transform the world for the better. Thus, they have a responsibility and capacity to contribute to the benefit of the society and the future generation. Precisely, the campaign message of the Mandela Day is: “Nelson Mandela has fought for social justice for 67 years. We’re asking you to start with 67 minutes.”
Courageous, compassionate, ethicist and outspoken Mandela devoted his life for his beloved motherland. Mandela said, “The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
In his speech to mark 2018 Mandela Day, UN Secretary General, António Guterres, said, “Very few people in history have captured the imagination of the world as he did. Even fewer have been able to provide such inspiration. He stands today as a beacon for universal values – peace, forgiveness, humility, integrity, passion, respect and service. Madiba showed us that these are not just words or vague ideals, but concrete actions that we can all take”.
Former Transparency International (TI) Nigerian chapter president, Ishola-Williams, who chaired the event to mark the Mandela Day at the Freedom Park in Lagos, said Mandela set an example for African leaders by not seeking tenure elongation. He said the late Mandela was unique as a leader, and that Africa lacks his type.
He said Mandela never forgot the role Nigeria played in the apartheid struggle, adding that he truly sacrificed himself for his people. Williams regretted that not enough was being done to stop the endless killing of Nigerians in South Africa.
“Nigerians are being killed in South Africa intermittently. We need to do something about that. Nigeria and South Africa need to work together, and create regular dialogue so that we can understand each other. We’ve got to think innovatively and find solutions. South Africa and Nigeria need to provide leadership to Africa,” he said.
Mandela spent 27 years in prison for fighting against the apartheid regime of South Africa. Yet, when he was freed in 1990 amidst national and international pressure, and eventually became the president of the country, he disregarded the call for revenge and opted for reconciliation with his oppressors. He established the unique “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” under the leadership of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the first in the world. Mandela belongs to all ages. He repeatedly called on the next generation to make concerted efforts to eliminate injustices from the world.
In December 2015, the UN decided to further expand the scope of Nelson Mandela International Day. Thus, the UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/70/175 not only adopted the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, but also approved a set of new guidelines to be known as “Nelson Mandela Rules.”
We cannot agree more with Ishola Williams that Mandela’s vision for a democratic, tolerant and corruption-free developed society with equal rights, and social justice, still remains unrealized in Africa, especially in South Africa and Nigeria. We, therefore, urge our leaders to go beyond the annual rituals and rhetorics of marking the Mandela Day by adopting pragmatic measures to free the African continent from the throes of corruption, increasing mayhem and murder.