“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.”
(Excerpts taken from a 2007
interview with Mandela conducted by Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed).
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