I wonder if there is any living African (and even in the whole universe) that would attract the kind of global attention the death of Nelson Mandela has generated so far. Probably, the person whose death attracted similar global sympathy and eulogy was Mahatma Gandhi. Both men shared the equal pedigree in fighting for the rights of the oppressed. My position is without prejudice. It is just a statement born out of facts and figures. Take a cursory look at events that have taken place since Mandela’s demise was announced and you will understand my sentiments. South Africa, figuratively speaking, has been held spellbound since that fateful Thursday last week when he triumphantly joined his ancestors.

There is something special about his exit: even though his death was long anticipated (having been ill for the greater part of 2012 and 2013) his final surrender to the cold hands of death has been welcomed as if nobody was expecting him to die. This is why, up till date, I am yet to be convinced he has died. Will Mandela ever die? How could a man with such global preeminence die? Nelson Mandela is South Africa and South Africa is Nelson Mandela. Therefore, to say Mandela is dead is to infer South Africa is dead. Will South Africa ever die, so long it exists?
Nelson Mandela represents different things to different people all over the world. Each person’s perception of him derives from one’s personal encounter(s) with him – physically or though his works. To some, he was a colossus, an icon, a statesman, a suave politician, an orator and, above all, a father. Mandela represents everything good to me. He was a freedom fighter, a public counsellor, an educator, a humanist, a humourist, an altruist, an intellectualist, a martinet and, most significantly, the Father of modern Africa. Surprisingly, in each theatre of life, where he held forth, he excelled.

What I feel inside about his transmutation into heavenly glory is more than a deep sense of loss for a beloved person. It is much more than that. I feel totally empty and crestfallen, wondering who would feel the vacuum he has created in his family (our family), South Africa and the whole world. One of the reasons Africa is held in awe by the global community was because of Mandela. His accomplishments are beyond description and underscore the beauty of self-emptying and altruism, which he gloriously epitomized.

For 27 long years he was held on an Island that could better be described as a chamber of death and misery. He was held against his will and the will of the people he loved so much for such a long period just to kill his indomitable spirits. Contrary to the morbid expectations of his jailors, he endured and survived. He saw beyond the physical realm the bountiful grace that was to follow his incarceration. In fact, he smelt freedom each day he spent on the island and this kept him going. He knew within him that freedom would come someday – though at a very grave price. And so, he persevered. Freedom came at last – when God in his unquestionable wisdom decided to set him free.

His journey to the gulag started in the first place for having the audacity to stand up for the defence of the rights of his oppressed people. He was not deterred by the menacing and gun-wielding security personnel and the brutality of his persecutors on Robin Island, where he was held for 27 years for treason. He stood his grounds, asking for the liberation of his people from internal imperialism and neo-colonialism, throughout his multifarious trials. He trudged along with the courage of a Spartan, nonetheless.

When freedom finally came, the world was already wearied – wearied by the long sufferings of the Black and oppressed people of South Africa. Even the people he set free did not know how to compensate him for the huge sacrifices he made for their sake.Released from jail, his people embraced him with jubilation and handed him the coveted trophy – the exalted office of president. They ushered him into the presidential palace with fanfare and panache, but he did not allow the attractions of the high office to obliterate his beliefs and principles or obfuscate his vision to build a South Africa devoid of hate, racial biases, greed, dichotomy and reign of terror.

Though he was reluctant to accept the invitation by his people to become president; nevertheless, he had no other choice but to accede to their request. In an interview with him, he confided in me that he would have loved not to be president, opting rather to stay out of public glare and work for the uplift of the voiceless and defenceless. On the other hand, he knew the gargantuan expectations of his people and found the presidency a veritable platform to lay a solid foundation for a a just and egalitarian South Africa.

His tenure as president restored humanity and orderliness in the business of governance. It also restored hope and banished fear among the large black population in South Africa. In all, the world started restoring diplomatic relations with South Africa and normalcy returned.
Despite the persistent pressure for him to elongate his stay in office he did only a term and left. He knew that his long stay in jail had had a deadly toll on his health and psyche and so he chose to leave honourably to allow a more physically-competent person to run the show. His retirement from public office was without pain. The people did not want him to leave at the time he did, because they saw him as the embodiment of the soul of South Africa.

I want to remark at this point that I was among the first to warn former Nigeria’s Head of State Olusegun Obasanjo not to run for third term. And Nelson Mandela also advised him not to do so. Mandela lived out his disdain for tenure elongation when he resisted the entreaties to run for a second term as president of South Africa. This should, ordinarily, serve as a lesson to the younger generation who relish in undemocratic practices and acts capable of jeopardizing the peace and stability of their nations.

From retirement, Mandela set another record by playing an active role in the bid to bring the prestigious World Cup to Africa (precisely to South Africa) in 2010. He was in the team that went to the headquarters of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) in Zurich to lobby for South Africa to play host to the World Cup tournament. And it came to fruition. He was scheduled to kick off the tournament but could not make it personally due to the death of one of his grandchildren in an accident. However, he was able to attend the closing of the soccer Mundial; and that happened to be his last active public appearance before his debilitating invalidity set in 2012. He was confined to his home and hardly ever ventured out. From that moment he became the cynosure of all eyes. The world waited with birthed breath in his final days of gradual and systematic transmutation. He was in and out of hospital countless times, and like a Trojan he soldiered on unfazed. He never wanted to die, not because he was afraid of death, but for the seeming inseparable bond between him and his people. And so, he clung to life. The world was even satisfied he was alive, though invalid and immobile. The feeling that he was alive was just enough to keep hopes alive. At one time, it was speculated he had died. But the next minute he was back to life. He never wanted to leave his beloved and cherished people without his presence. He had dreamt to live with them for as long as they lived. How I wish wishes were horses!

The early part of this year was tumultuous for Mandela and his family, especially Gracia, his beloved wife, who stood by him under rain and sun, comforting him all the way. It was then the world had thought he was going to die. Suddenly he woke up from coma and doggedly journeyed on. As if to give humanity some break from their miserable trauma about his ill-health everything went bland. Nothing again was heard about him or his illness until the news filtered out from South Africa on Thursday, December 5, 2013, that the Madiba had eventually bowed to death. He breathed his last in his home in Qunu; not at the hospital or anywhere else.

I had wondered if it were here in Nigeria: no person in Mandela’s position would prefer to die in his home. Ordinarily, he or she would have loved to be flown abroad to receive the best medical attention, only to be brought home in a golden casket a few weeks later, thereby creating more burden for his already distressed family.

I knew Mandela personally, and the relationship trickled down to his successors. The first day I met him was like somebody meeting God. I was then the governor of Abia State in Nigeria. He welcomed me with so much affection that I have always relished that experience till date. There was a gift he gave me. He told me in plain language that he gave it to me in admiration of my courage to fight for social justice and equality. He blessed me and treated me like his son until he passed away peacefully. I will sorely miss him.

One significant lesson I took away from that visit was his love for children and the generally oppressed. I saw a few of these children as he cuddled them at his home during the visit. Each time I went to South Africa to see the President or do any business I had always taken time out to visit him. And I will continue to visit his home, even after his painful exit.

Something in me tells me his ancestral home and other things personally attached to him will soon become tourists’ attractions. And he deserves it. Yes, he deserves much more than that for his contributions, not only to South Africa but, to the global community. His mediatory roles in conflicts across the globe were quite remarkable. So also was his love for sports, especially football and Rugby Union. The global sporting community showed by their solidarity last Saturday that they have, indeed, lost one of their own.

Different countries across the world have been mourning Mandela in diverse ways. For instance, Nigeria has declared three days of national mourning with a directive by President Goodluck Jonathan that all Nigerian flags should fly at half-mast during the period. Even the United States and other global superpowers have joined the mourning train.

I have also wondered how the day of his burial would be – the personalities, the gait, the resplendency, the boisterous crowd, the dances and the dancers, the regalia of the guests, the cultural displays, the music, particularly the rendition of the melodious Anthem of South Africa, his final resting place (how befitting?), the epitaphs, the eulogies, etc. The most beautiful eulogy will come from his family who suffered the agony of his persecution the most. I remember his political associates with whom he fought the good fight to the end and won freedom for their people. I remember particularly Archbishop Desmond Tutu (his co-winner of the Nobel Peace prize). His official reaction to Mandela’s death was touching. What of Oliver Tambo and Thabo Mbeki (former President – who actually succeeded Mandela) and current President Jacob Zuma? I have not read former President Fredrick W. De Klerk’s tribute. It was De Klerk who handed over to Mandela. It was under his aegis that apartheid was abolished.

There is one significant thing about Mandela’s death: his death has brought together many, hitherto, strange bedfellows. Indeed, the white and black people of South Africa have demonstrated equal sense of loss. They have been trooping out in their thousands to mourn the great defender and icon of freedom and social equality. Already, over 80 Heads of State and government have signified interest to attend his burial taking place tomorrow December 15 in Qunu – his ancestral home. Our own President Jonathan left the shores of Nigeria on Monday, December 9 to participate in some of the pre-burial activities. Almost all the most powerful and influential persons, including artistes, have indicated interest to attend. Top among the list of artistes scheduled to participate in the final burial rites are Bono and Steward Wonder.

My mind goes out to his immediate family. I feel for his children, many grand and great grandchildren who dotted him in the latter days of his earthly odyssey. What about Winnie with whom he started the struggle for the liberation of the people of South Africa, his countless admirers, his aides and associates, not excluding his enemies and detractors? They will all miss him dearly.

But what we miss in Mandela the heavenly abode has gained. A new saint has been added to the number of God’s Angels. Though he is among the earliest candidates his monumental achievements on earth will earn him a position of prominence. Mandela stature is such that the heavens will acknowledge him.

Soon,  the remains of the Madiba, the great and unassailable warrior, the indefatigable defender of the poor and oppressed, the lone voice in the wilderness of the chastised and cajoled, the uncommon fountain of intellectuality and acuity, the visionary leader and kindhearted philanthropist will be lowered into the grave to begin another journey to heavenly bliss where his efforts and accomplishments will be commensurately rewarded.

Continue to rest in peace, my beloved father, until we meet again in heaven!