In an interview with journalists at his home town
in Abeokuta, Ogun state south western Nigeria, on Friday, Former head of state,
Obasanjo said Mandela’s life was an example of what people should all aspire
for. See his tribute below
“In all situations, he lived nobly and died
in nobility. Let us bear in mind that we all have the opportunity to act nobly
in whatever position we find ourselves,”
“His
demise is a loss to his family who will miss a caring patriarch; the people of
South Africa who will miss a guide, Africa who will miss a role model and the
world who will miss a leader.
“When we teach our children lessons for
tomorrow, let us remember lessons Mandela gave the world in forgiveness and
forbearance,’’
“During
the first non-racial democratic elections in 1994, I was on election
observation assignment in South Africa and was there for his campaign and when
he cast his vote.
“He was devoid of bitterness or anger against
anybody except the hated apartheid system.
“He went on to win the election and more
importantly led South Africa to the extent that the country was able to cast
aside its apartheid legacy and take its place in comity of nations.
“Certain that his task was completed, Mandela
modestly refused to seek re-election after his first term in office as his
presidency elapsed.
“I still recall his pragmatic words when he
said to me ‘Olu, show me a place in the world where a man of 80 years is
running the affairs of his country.
“This, to me, reflects an unequalled sense of
modesty for a man who spent 27 of the prime years of his life in prison for a
just cause.
“Yet he
still kept a calm and peaceful disposition to those who took away his freedom
for all those years of his life,’’
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