by Oge Okonkwo
Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida believes that the world may have to wait a century to have a leader just like the recently departed Nelson Mandela.
General Babangida in a tribute to the late Mandela said with the death of the former South African president, the world has lost one of its best leaders.
The deceased more than anyone else had shown an example of what good leadership is all about.
Reports say:
Babangida, who spoke to reporters in Minna, said Africa should be proud that God gave the continent a man and leader in Mandela whose life and time impacted humanity and the world at large.
“The world has lost one of its best leaders. We should take solace in the fact that his life and his time were something that everybody in the world should be proud of his achievements,” he said.
“Mandela had a moral conviction and his moral conducts was very, very high and powerful. He made sure that what he believed in he stood for it. I think those are very good lessons.
“He displayed one thing which is un-African: he stayed in power for one term which he thought was noble and he allowed the younger generations like Thambo Mbeki to take over from him.”
He said the late Mandela held Nigeria in high esteem during his life time.
“I recall that when he was released from prison, Nigeria was the first country he visited because of our role as one of the frontline states that helped to dismantle apartheid and installed a popular government in South Africa.
“Mandela held Nigeria in high esteem. This he acknowledged when he visited Nigeria.”
Babangida also spoke on his personal relationship with the Mandela family.
“About three weeks ago, his former wife (Winnie) sent her daughter to give me a book which she has just published and that shows you that the relationship is very, very cordial.”
IBB refused to validate Abiola's widely acclaimed election. He planned to elongate himself in office from miltary President to civilian president. Mandela's story should serve as a lesson to our self acclaimed leaders and rulers. One question I must ask here is, Is there anyone in Nigeria who can be equated to Mandela? None. Mandela stayed just one term in office, Gowon was reluctant to hand over until he was chased out by a militay coup. Obasanjo wanted third term through the back door after completing two terms of 8 years. Abacha's "Youths Earnestly Support Abacha For President" was organised to make Abacha life president. Jonathan is already scheming to elongate himself in office. To achieve this, he is using the Senate and the national conference committee. (Senator Ike Ekweremadu) is already mouthing the proposal of a 7'year single term which includes a two year extension for Jonathan and the governors. See the leaders we have?
IBB refused to validate Abiola's widely acclaimed election. He planned to elongate himself in office from miltary President to civilian president. Mandela's story should serve as a lesson to our self acclaimed leaders and rulers. One question I must ask here is, Is there anyone in Nigeria who can be equated to Mandela? None. Mandela stayed just one term in office, Gowon was reluctant to hand over until he was chased out by a militay coup. Obasanjo wanted third term through the back door after completing two terms of 8 years. Abacha's "Youths Earnestly Support Abacha For President" was organised to make Abacha life president. Jonathan is already scheming to elongate himself in office. To achieve this, he is using the Senate and the national conference committee. (Senator Ike Ekweremadu) is already mouthing the proposal of a 7'year single term which includes a two year extension for Jonathan and the governors. See the leaders we have?