WHEN finally the roll of reckoning is made of renascent Africa and by extension humanity at large, Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Nelson Mandela's place will be so prominent and unassailable... lasting through the ages to come. Not because he is endowed with some superhuman capacities over and above the rest of mankind, after all he is a four-time-married-and-several-occasions-bereaved man. Rather what has clearly singled him out of the league; from Africa to Europe, Asia to the Americas; the Caribbean to the Pacific is this norm of resoluteness and altruistic disposition to unyieldingly stand for what is right at all times. Not for this once -in- a- millennium personage are those pedestrian art and skill of our modern-day politicians/fair-weather demagogues.
For Mandela, he who could not stand for something would irredeemably fall for anything. Way back the 1990s; upon his release from a 27-year imprisonment and eventual assumption of the South African Presidency, rather than fall to the low level of the Kamuzu Bandas, Robert Mugabes, Jean Bokassas, Sani Abachas, Pol Pots who reveled in power thirst and crude sort while they lasted; the reverent Mandela is too cultured for the disease of power tenacity, orgy of kleptomania or cult personality disorder! Demonstrably, he offers himself as a magnet of peace/reconciliation to all shades of the South African Republic thereby disappointing the incurable cynics and critics who (needlessly) waited in the wings with their hypotheses that Mandela's release/power ascension was a historical mistake.
Ever receptive of eclectic ideas, Mandela initiated the Rainbow Ideal wherein typically the 1789 French Revolution principles of Equity, Justice and Liberty would sway and obviously mindful of his human limitations, right from inception he put in motion the process of incubating his successors by freely exposing them to the arena and perks of power which typical power wielders would tenaciously have personalised.
It may not be out of tune to eulogise Mandela's large-heartedness considering the rapprochement as well as reciprocity that widely prevailed during his four-year reign; because if it were for another person of another clime, the likes of Gashua Mangosutu Buthelezi's, FW De Clerks would have been six feet deep in no time!. For, who such power perverts could not silence, they easily corrupted by all means possible and at worse they visited the non-compromising ones with premature death/made cross-national émigrés.
Agreed, nothing monumental in human endeavour comes easy and herein lies the paradox and profoundity of the post-Mandela South Africa almost two decades after its independence. Surfing available data, macro-managing its economy has been on the high increase and its global reckoning has been on the widening cutting edge. Talk of its scientific and technological efforts, medical feats (its emergency room services are reputed to be the world's best), telecommunication (MTN et al), Digital Satellite Television (DStv) or even the successful hosting of the 2010 World Soccer Tournament.
Indeed, the average South African was yet to be truly impacted by the somewhat esoteric statistics which arguably might have been because of inadequate mechanisms for even resource distribution; ageless ethnic conflicts, primordial sentiments. Aside from these vast and varied circumstances; the idiosyncrasies, vision, perception of each leader (in a broader sense) go a long way to determining the ultimate good/ goal of the society. Up till date, South Africa has had three presidents (Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma) and each had his iconic influence. While Mandela was regarded as the father of the nation; Mbeki was perceived as an ideologue-hero and Zuma was taken as a business-minded technocrat.
Barring any dislocation or unforeseen circumstances and if South Africa's continually charted political path (since 1994) was to be followed; Cyril Ramaphosa would succeed Zuma as the next president. One basic reason is that despite the disaffections and complaints at large, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is still heads and shoulders over other political parties; communal, chauvinistic or related leanings, irrespective. As of now, there is no formidable political power; institutionalised or otherwise, that can withstand the ANC, in form or deeds and so long as it can rein in its ideologue-rebels, urban militants and understandably aggrieved proletariat so too would it remain relevant in South Africa's realpolitik. But for how long, time would tell as nothing human lasts for aye.
On a dispassionate note, now at his preparatory point of exiting this side of eternity, history would be magnanimous on his legacy given the confining time/realities he had to make his mark on the sand of memory and on this perspective, Mandela is his people's hero(of all times). Reflecting on the world at large, what Otto von Bismarck was to wielding imperial Germany; George Washington/John Fitzgerald Kennedy to birthing/reigniting the United States was what Mandela was to modernising South Africa.
Beyond mere wishes, Mandela either in legacy reckoning, institutionalised ethos or otherwise has readily reproduced himself. If America's President Barack Obama/former President Bill Clinton could unashamedly confess Mandela as their iconic hero among his unsung but swelling admirers, it then implies that the very personage, charisma and belief ethics of Mandela would withstand the test and rigour of time. His entire embodiments would distinctly outlive the ephemeral personifications of power drunks of our present dispensation/ of yore.
For the spiritually initiated, Mandela has already translated above the dark encumbrance of what happens to his hereafters because just as Saint Augustine was once quoted to have said: It is only those who had secured peace with their Creator who are tranquil indeed. If anything, the life and time of Mandela should be instructive cues for those who are at the pyramidal peak of societal positioning. Rather, what needs to be done is massive and relentless investment in developmental ideas which no sane nation or people can ill-advisedly afford to ignore.
In fact, virtually on all issues, mankind has had cause to reference its first parentage of Adam/Eve because human originality essentially started with them and ever since everyone has been a reproduction of one person or another; pleasant or evil. Ditto, Mandela chose to be pleasantly good. In the illuminating power of these Mandela retrospection(s), the man from the land of Azania could take his bow from our present eternity to the next where his sunshine would never grow dim.
For Mandela, fondly called Madiba as well as Tata; from Abuja to Abidjan; Cape Town to Cairo; New York to Nagasaki, Berlin to Buenos Aires, here is a heartfelt farewell to an endeared, beloved one whose place in history has already been secured in his lifetime.
* Omolade wrote from Goshen Haven, Ifelodun Estate, off FUTA North Gate, Akure Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and 07067976667- SMS ONLY
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