Nigerian government honours Mandela
Ministers took turns to eulogise the late South African leader.
The Nigerian government on Wednesday honoured late Nelson Mandela as the Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, paid tribute him.
Twenty two ministers who were present at the Council meeting, spent over an hour taking turns to pay their tribute which rounded off with Vice President Namadi Sambo’s tribute. They also observed a minute silence in honour of the late Madiba, the first black President of South Africa.
Some of the ministers advised African leaders against hanging on to power.
“Nelson Mandela was a great revolutionary, philanthropist, politician and anti-apartheid crusader. He dedicated his entire life to the service of humanity,” Mr. Sambo said.
“After 23 years of solitary confinement, the apartheid government shifted its stance and bowed to the will of the people. At the end of apartheid, Mandela left no one in doubt that his struggle was for mankind, the struggle was for all races.
“After just spending one term in office and in spite of the many successes he attained, Mandela did not rest on his oars. He continued with his struggle and activism both at home and abroad, despite his advanced age.”
Mr. Sambo condoled the Mandela family for the loss.
“They should ever take solace in the fact that Madiba lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation by all. Nelson Mandela will forever remain a source of inspiration to the younger generation,” he said.
“He has become a reference point for the younger people. We should continue with his good legacies and always try to replicate his good life. To Africa, we have lost a great reconciliator, a dogged fighter, a greater critic of oppression and injustice. We have lost a great ambassador of peace who shuttle the continent fighting against injustice.
“To the rest of the world, it is time to reflect what this great man lived and died for” he added.
On her part, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke said: “He persevered through great pain for the people and not for himself. In learning from Madiba, let us continue to work hard…this would be the greatest tribute we can pay Madiba.”
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, said Mandela brought so much goodness to the whole world.
“He is indeed a colossus,” he said.
The Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama, said: “His life was a simple life. He didn’t accumulate any wealth. He will never be forgotten. The like of Mandela is difficult to find.”
On his part, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, said that Mandela has taught the world the true meaning of leadership.
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said that Mandela has done better than many great names in history.
“We call on African leaders who want to die in power to emulate Mandela and leave office at the right time,” he added
The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that Mandela left a strong legacy on economy and education in South Africa and was a great supporter of women.
“He had a strong economic policy for the newly democratic South Africa, because of his policy of reconciliation; and also that he encouraged the growth of education in that country,” she said.
The Nigerian government on Wednesday honoured late Nelson Mandela as the Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, paid tribute him.
Twenty two ministers who were present at the Council meeting, spent over an hour taking turns to pay their tribute which rounded off with Vice President Namadi Sambo’s tribute. They also observed a minute silence in honour of the late Madiba, the first black President of South Africa.
Some of the ministers advised African leaders against hanging on to power.
“Nelson Mandela was a great revolutionary, philanthropist, politician and anti-apartheid crusader. He dedicated his entire life to the service of humanity,” Mr. Sambo said.
“After 23 years of solitary confinement, the apartheid government shifted its stance and bowed to the will of the people. At the end of apartheid, Mandela left no one in doubt that his struggle was for mankind, the struggle was for all races.
“After just spending one term in office and in spite of the many successes he attained, Mandela did not rest on his oars. He continued with his struggle and activism both at home and abroad, despite his advanced age.”
Mr. Sambo condoled the Mandela family for the loss.
“They should ever take solace in the fact that Madiba lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation by all. Nelson Mandela will forever remain a source of inspiration to the younger generation,” he said.
“He has become a reference point for the younger people. We should continue with his good legacies and always try to replicate his good life. To Africa, we have lost a great reconciliator, a dogged fighter, a greater critic of oppression and injustice. We have lost a great ambassador of peace who shuttle the continent fighting against injustice.
“To the rest of the world, it is time to reflect what this great man lived and died for” he added.
On her part, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke said: “He persevered through great pain for the people and not for himself. In learning from Madiba, let us continue to work hard…this would be the greatest tribute we can pay Madiba.”
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, said Mandela brought so much goodness to the whole world.
“He is indeed a colossus,” he said.
The Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama, said: “His life was a simple life. He didn’t accumulate any wealth. He will never be forgotten. The like of Mandela is difficult to find.”
On his part, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, said that Mandela has taught the world the true meaning of leadership.
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said that Mandela has done better than many great names in history.
“We call on African leaders who want to die in power to emulate Mandela and leave office at the right time,” he added
The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that Mandela left a strong legacy on economy and education in South Africa and was a great supporter of women.
“He had a strong economic policy for the newly democratic South Africa, because of his policy of reconciliation; and also that he encouraged the growth of education in that country,” she said.
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