“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).Tribune
Will they ever listen to the words of great men, greed n arrogance have taken the oder of the day. I no longer weep for my country.
ReplyDeleteWise and true words
DeleteHe hit the nail on the head! If only we will listen to him. SMH
ReplyDeleteNothing has changed since that interview held in 2007. SMH for Nigeria and Nigerians. Its almost a hopeless situation.
ReplyDeleteD great madiba! Continue to rest in peace! Education is power! Asuu una dey hear am?!
ReplyDeletewill they ever listen. sometimes am so embarrass to tell pple that am Nigerian. Corrupt leaders
ReplyDeleteTrue talk dear Mandela. R.I.P
ReplyDeleteIs Moi same person as Me? Na question i ask...
DeleteGoogle is ur friend
DeleteI used to be proud being a Nigerian, but right now I wish I wasn't.
ReplyDeleteLet's just pray and hope things get better..
DeleteHw long shld we keep praying n hoping thing gets better? For hw long pls. I heard this same phrase way back in my nursery sch, Kg1 precisly till now still same situation. Prayer without action is useless. Madiba has said it all
DeleteMandela abeg, go rest,
ReplyDeleteU don try,No worry ursef.
Our matter, dey God hand.
God wld deliver nigerians 4m corruptn.
Statin wit parents wu go all out to work WAEC for dia children.
To young men wu indulge in cyber crime
To pretty ladies bleachin skins in d name of runs
To old shameless politician embezlin public fund.
I saw a pic of aunty peeshie @ d ceremony looking round n perfect,
Sorry perfectly round, lik a neglected football.
D change must begin with ME and U!
Gbam!
ReplyDeletePoverty is Nigerian problem. I wish all the politician looting our money in this country rot in hell.
ReplyDeleteI feel every word as if I am hearing it 4rm Madiba directly...u cld never have said it better but too bad our leaders don't listen to such .Only God can help us and I believe soon he will
ReplyDeleteHe has said it all. So tired of even talking about every negative things going on in this country. I long for that change in Nigeria so much for a long while now tht am beginning to think it might not happen anytime soon, our leader h sold their soul to the devil
ReplyDeleteNa Wa Oooo! What a shame to this country. And to think but the present and past leaders read this interview and they acted as if nothing ever occured still baffles me. What a shame. Now I know why GEJ was snubbed during mandela's memorial.
ReplyDeleteFG of Nigeria.Money sucking Demons!!
ReplyDeleteI hope they can see the premium placed on education by Madiba himself.
They should give the ASUU people all the money due to them so that Students can return to school.
Sadly however,Corruption is now at the grassroot level and it would have to take strict sanctions on defaulters to curb it.
Look at that misdemeanour of an Aviation Minister, if she was an honourable woman she would have resigned admist all this scandal..but NO,she *wan die on top the office matter*.
Then they would use money which can help improve the education sector to send their children to Harvard and the Likes.
Am i pained? YES!!
Gbam Gbam!!!! I was actually waiting for this!!! Bt some fins said there r so untrue , n some do happen @ SA tooo..
ReplyDeleteSUCR'E
Wow! *crying* such wisdom,wow!!!
ReplyDeleteHe said it all "poverty does not breed confidence"..and God knows we Nigerians need confidence,We need it like we need the air we breath,our timidity and inferiority complex is killing,that's why we accept everytin dis bastards dish out,cus we don't believe we deserve better,we don't know we deserve better(illiteracy)now asuu has been on strike for 5months,and NOBODY is appalled by it,we sit behind our computer and lament on twitter,on fb,it has bcom a norm,all talk and no action,its a pity,dat we sit and watch dis crops of recycled politicians rub shit in ourt faces and call us fools,10yrs time yu all wil be parents if yu are nt aready,is this the kind of country we wanna hand dem,we should all inscribe "I AM A COWARD" on our foreheads,so the world wil kno wat we really are,the poor keep gettin poorer and d rich rich,and all this in 2013?shame!!!!!
Nigerians are cowards!
All of you are
I am a coward!
We all are,as long as we keep suffering and smiling,and keep migrating to do menial jobs in countries where her citizens are humans like you,buh av refused to take bullshit from deir govt,shameless lot,I weep for Nigeria!!!
Jo
Omg! Can't believe am crying! Madiba from a pragmatic and human approach to south africa was really a messiah..... He was just like the Jesus of their time only that sin makes them distinct.... What more can this man offer? He surely gave his all! My Mentor! My Hero!!! My Inspiration..... i Salute thee
ReplyDeleteThe three major problems of Nigeria
ReplyDelete1.Corruption by the leaders and followers alike.
2.Nigerians are not patriotic, we do not love this nation.
3.We are greedy, we acquire more than we need.
If we as nigerians can truly and genuinely with all our hearts fight these problems, nigeria will be a heaven on earth for us all and our generations unborn.
It has fallen on deaf ears. It's in the water they drink! Hopefully, there will be a generation of our leaders who will listen and act. Maybe not in my lifetime but in my children's lifetime.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Madiba. Continue to RIP..
ReplyDeletewell said sir. fear is a big factor amongst my fellow country men . nobody wants to stand up because of this scourge called fear.may you rest in peace
ReplyDeleteSo true mehn... I don't know why we are not more angry than we are... Only to vent on blogs and that's it... The politicians converting our resourses to there personal wealth..... Any small thing,Reuben abati will come out and defend the govt forgetting that when he was an activist,he said so many contrary things abt the small govt his supporting...
ReplyDeleteOh Nigeria my country,let's open our eyes and vote well,whether Christian,pegan or Muslim,as long as u can get the job done no need for sentiments..
Words on d marble! Madiba said d whole truth,nting bt d truth. I hope 4 a greater,better,one etc Nigeria!
ReplyDeleteAll hail Madiba!!! He was truly a man of great values n he will forever b remembered... He should b immortalised... #my six cents
ReplyDeleteHe's said it all. The great Madibba was also a prophet. Nigerians can like to be on d wrong side of everything on planet earth...smh!
ReplyDeleteMadiba ... A man of the people ... Sleep on my hero
ReplyDeleteSo touching
ReplyDeleteOh Nigeria of all the blessings God gave to you, you have the bad luck of bad leaders. May God help Nigeria. Bunmi
ReplyDeleteGod bless ur soul MANDELA. 12cares firm is working on it
ReplyDeleteOnly if our leaders will listen and take a queue from this man....we need to change for the sake of change
ReplyDeleteIts clue baby........thank me later
DeleteNah! Cue
DeleteI hope they hear btw the They means U and I. #FiNEWiNe
ReplyDeleteoh Madiba!!! how wise you were. you really said it all. the "giant of Africa" keeps rubbishing its name and image daily all thanks to lack or credible leadership and loyal followers and abundance of greedy and corrupt people! WHICH WAY NIGERIA????
ReplyDeletei'm close to tears, God bless ur soul Madela u were a great leader
ReplyDeleteThe truth is bitter but it is the truth. Nigerians are not angry enough yet. Things would have been a lot better if only we got a little more angry.
ReplyDeleteSo very well said! Nigerians are comfortable with where they are no one wants to stand up and fight sigh
ReplyDeleteWords of wisdom. If only we could all listen and obey this seemingly simple advice, then Nigeria will surely be on the pathway to greatest again! RIP Tata..
ReplyDeleteMadiba lives on............. This piece is timely and timeless. I underlined the part that says "CORRUPT PEOPLE DO NOT MAKE GOOD LEADERS".
ReplyDeletePoverty does not breed confidence. Only confident people can bring changes. .........RIP Madiba
ReplyDeleteDis him vexin don make Mr President ansa ASUU o.
ReplyDeleteMy dear Madiba,no need wasting your breath on us.. There is no amount of advice,talks or any revolution that will change our corrupt leaders.. Even if someone goes to prison for us and stays 50 years,he/she is staying their for nothing.. He will even come out of the prison and be insulted for being foolish and getting jailed for it. SDKers would make sure he is well insulted..
ReplyDeleteSo muly dear Madiba rest in peace.
Only God can help us.
Shame dey cath me sef. Fighting corruption is a collective endeavour. We can start by being honest in all our dealings, obeying traffic laws, refusing to bribe our way out of difficult situations,paying our taxes,helping the poor,queing in lines like civilised people and reporting friends and family who flout the laws of the land. If we keep shielding criminals because of tribe or religion,there is no way we can move forward as a country. One love my people!
ReplyDeleteVery correct! Thanks
DeleteNigerians are not as angry as we are suppose to be because Nigerians lack patriotism, we are professors in suffering and smiling. We turn everything into a big joke. We are not as patriotic as South Africans. I mean tell me oneperson that would have come out to shout "free Mandela " if the countries were reversed? We only did occupy Nigeria because the subsidy thingy affected us all. We are not our brothers keepers. We don't care for the poor all we care about is our immediate family. Besides There is no single man like Mandela here in Nigeria so how things wan take better?
ReplyDeleteHalf of Nelson Madela would change Nigeria forever. God, send us our Mandela. He might be an Okechukwu, Akpan, Isa, Ebiere, Ehinme or Adepoju. But if he would be half as determined an Mandela, we will pull through.
ReplyDeleteAnd all of una wey dey carry belle commot am, Make una try keep am na. Maybe na una don abort all the Mandela wey God send give us here for Nigeria oh Honestly, it is a sad situation.
LOOOOL Smh. U nko? Hw about the one way u don comot since nko? Lol
DeleteHope our leaders ll take to this?Pj
ReplyDelete"You know i am not very happy with Nigeria" but what did he do about it? Our heroes were not happy with apartheid and they stood their ground against the whites all in the spirit off brotherhood. We ought to have been honoured/recognised at the soccer city on monday not minding how we are now, if not for this present generation atleast they should have thought of our heroes who out of their bravery and kindness helped in bringing freedom to SA! A nigerian , prof. Chinua Achebe's book you read in the prison that gave you courage, hope and the will to fight nko! Ti odo ba gbagbe orisun e, a se ki ni ooooo?
ReplyDeleteGOD BLESS NIGERIA, LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC!!
Paragon7ven.
Mr paragon u no make sense. How many countries they wan recognize. Was chinua achebe's book the only book he read in prison. Typical nigerian, being called to the high table matters more than doing the right things
DeleteParagon abi wetin, u like to make no sense sometimes abeg.
DeleteRegarding the apartheid struggle Nigeria helped SA with, at least the fight had already begun ie people were doing smth abt. Who has started a war on Nigeria's problems pls?! Also at his age then (90), what did u expect him to do? Begin a crusade for us?! A word ought to be enuf for the wise.
Stop sitting on ur throne and being sentimental abeg.
It is easy for us to rant on blogs and fume on social networks, the truth is change will never occur until we rise in unison and fight for our rights, nigeria is one if not the most blessed black nation in the world with both human and natural resources yet we hardly live on a dollar per day, what a shame, did a lil research on google and it was stated that abacha alone looted £50billion pounds www.google.com/m?q=abacha+loots+and+other+nigerian+leaders%21&client=ms-opera-mini&channel=new, not to talk of the ones the obasanjos and articles,babangida and abdusalam must have looted into their personal coffers, we will continue to gnash our teeth, whimper and sniff with frustration at the decay and rot of our nation due to corruption to no avail, until we do the right thing and stand up for our right as a nation as one irrespective of tribe and culture and demand for our right, we won't get what we want, America which is one of the nations we aspire to go to for a better life at a time had problems domestically and its citizens and patriots revolted, a jefferson quote go this way "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
ReplyDeletetime to time with the blood of patriots and
tyrants. ... God forbid we should ever be
twenty years without such a rebellion; what
country can preserve its liberties if their
rulers are not warned from time to time that
their people preserve the spirit of
resistance? Let them take arms." -- Thomas
Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787. www.examiner.com/article/the-blood-of-patriots-and-tyrants
The question is we know the tyrants, who wants to be the patriot? Myself? Or everyone who Is tired of living in skulduggery? It is time we start fighting for our rights and say no to modern slavery by our own government.
*dessydore*
It's a hopeless situation n all hope hasten been lost, things has fallen apart and the centre cannot hold. I'm tired of weeping for Nigeria because our leaders has sold us out. and their interest is in taxpayers money...stealing public fund for their own personal use, millions of dollars get missing everyday. It beats my imagination how money grow winds and fly on daily basis.
ReplyDeleteIt's a hopeless situation n all hope hasten been lost, things has fallen apart and the centre cannot hold. I'm tired of weeping for Nigeria because our leaders has sold us out. and their interest is in taxpayers money...stealing public fund for their own personal use, millions of dollars get missing everyday. It beats my imagination how money grow winds and fly on daily basis.
ReplyDeleteIt's a hopeless situation n all hope hasten been lost, things has fallen apart and the centre cannot hold. I'm tired of weeping for Nigeria because our leaders has sold us out. and their interest is in taxpayers money...stealing public fund for their own personal use, millions of dollars get missing everyday. It beats my imagination how money grow winds and fly on daily basis.
ReplyDeleteMajek Fashek song *hey hey hey Free Mandela* we still try 4 S A dat tym God help d gaint of africa.
ReplyDeleteFood for thought!
ReplyDeleteShut the fuck up... "What did he do about corruption"..He obviously advised and talked to our thieving leaders.. That to me is enough.. Should he come down and rule nigeria? Our leaders all need Jesus.. No be today corruption start for nigeria..
ReplyDeleteMr Mandela, once a legend always a legend..
Start searchng for ur source of sucess. Plus a way out,a legal one. Nigeria got notin to offer.
ReplyDelete