Hours after we published our editorial, Nigeria Airbrushed Out of Mandela’s Life Story, we got a rejoinder from Outspoken: A blog from Tundun Adeyemo
The writer sure didn’t pull any punches as you would discover yourselves below.
All I have to say is that I align myself with some of the points made in the rejoinder and I believe both articles – our original article and the rejoinder – are saying the same thing in different ways.
I wasn’t taking offence at South Africa’s decision not to recognise or acknowledge Nigeria I was simply explaining why they did not: They are embarrassed at our leadership.
Referring to the UK and the US as Mandela’s “jailers” is not factually inaccurate because South Africa is a former colony of the UK and both countries were, at the time Mandela was imprisoned, two of South Africa’s biggest trading partners.
If they had put enough pressure on the apartheid government Mandela would have been freed sooner.
The positions Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan took on Mandela and apartheid is still fresh in our memories.
It wasn’t a reference to all white people as the rejoinder appears to suggest.
Here’s the rejoinder:
– Its been 18 years since Nelson Mandela left Robben Island, in that time, a lot has happened to the world and to South Africa. Why must Nigeria be singled out for recognition at this burial. I m more than sure that South Africa has said thank you many times since apartheid fell. Is the writer of the article suggesting that every time the dismantling of apartheid is mentioned, Nigeria’s glorious role in doing that is mentioned. Nigeria and other nations who played a part in supporting the ANC and those who clamoured for the release of Mandela had a moral duty to do so.
– It was probably best that the Nigerian President was not accorded any more respect than he was given. It is my opinion that in terms of security, corruption and preserving the middle class, Mr Jonathan has been more than spineless. To suggest that the Europeans and Americans got more recognition at his demise misses the whole point of Nelson Mandela’s life. Africans are not in competition with the Americans or the Europeans. Or perhaps we should be! The Memorial Service to which the writer alludes to was of the right calibre and tone. Africa’s leaders have failed to learn from Madiba, they have failed to learn that its about the people. Service to humanity should be more than bread and butter, till that happens, the African continent will remain where it is. Irrelevant!
The term ‘jailers’ I find offensive. The writer is making the mistake that every white person is meant to be the enemy. The whole article is rubbish really. I cannot agree with the tone of it.
More later!
