Obasanjo - "Mandela’s life example of what people should aspire for"

Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has described the late Nelson Madela as a man who raised the beacon of human struggle to lofty heights of nobility.

Obasanjo, who addressed journalists in his home in Abeokuta on Friday, said Mandela’s life was an example of what people should all aspire for.

“In all situations, he lived nobly and died in nobility. Let us bear in mind that we all have the opportunity to act nobly in whatever position we find ourselves,” he added.

He described Mandela’s death as a monumental loss to all human races and called on all to emulate the life and times of the great leader.

“His demise is a loss to his family who will miss a caring patriarch; the people of South Africa who will miss a guide, Africa who will miss a role model and the world who will miss a leader.

“When we teach our children lessons for tomorrow, let us remember lessons Mandela gave the world in forgiveness and forbearance,’’ Obasanjo said.

Obasanjo, who eulogising Mandela, recalled the times when he was voted to become South-Africa’s post-apartheid president.

“During the first non-racial democratic elections in 1994, I was on election observation assignment in South Africa and was there for his campaign and when he cast his vote. Read more