Where Was Nigeria at Mandela’s Funeral?

There has been a lot of talk on Nigeria’s cyberspace about the attention (or lack of) Nigeria received at the ceremonies that followed Nelson Mandela’s demise.

Nigerians have not failed to notice that our president, Goodluck Jonathan, who was present at the memorial service was not given any form of acknowledgement at the event where President Barack Obama of the US was given the podium to give a eulogy.

Nigerians were quick to point out that while the US and the UK were supporting apartheid Nigeria was at the forefront of the fight to end the evil political system.

The complaint goes on and on.

It appears that we are the only ones who do not realise the fact that we have been consigned to the dustbin of history, thanks to our leaders.

After South Africa embraced multi-party democracy, Mandela sworn in as the first democratically elected president they made giant strides not only in the continent but also in the world.

Mandela in particular made sure that he lived above board and set a fine example for leaders all over the world to follow.

Mandela has become the yardstick with which the world measures political transparency.

Most people are quick to mention the fact that he refused to run for a second term in office. 

Since Mandela’s release from prison on the other hand, Nigeria has moved from military dictatorship to civilian profligacy; complete disrespect for the Rule of Law under military dictatorship has been replaced with unbridled corruption under civilian rule and government by electoral fraud has simply replaced unconstitutional military dictatorship.

Yet we complain that we were not recognised at Mandela’s funeral. The old man would have been disappointed at the present ANC leadership had Nigeria’s president been given the podium to speak at the memorial ceremony.

While South Africans were still celebrating the life of one of the greatest statesmen in the last two hundred years an ex-president and the incumbent one are engaged in a power tussle with Nigerians taking sides with one or the other.

Yet we complain that we were not recognised at Mandela’s funeral. The important dignitaries would probably have laughed at the organisers had the podium been given to our president.

Respect is not demanded for but earned. If we want to be respected at the world stage we have to earn it and not throw tantrums like a child every time we get what we deserve.