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Nelson Mandela’s message to Nigerian leaders (excerpts from a 2007 interview)
(Excerpts taken from a 2007 interview with Mandela conducted by Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed).
“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 leaders 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
more 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.”
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