by Shehu Sani

Mandela was a light that shinned over a dark era of despicable cruelty and unmitigated evil. He was a tower that gave moral and physical muscle to a cause that frees humanity from the evil of some of its own. The world without Mandela could have been a world of unimaginable depravity.

The news of the death of the hero of the anti apartheid struggle, Nelson Mandela was a painful one. Africa,the black race and all freedom loving people of the world have lost a revolutionary icon. Mandela symbolized freedom and resistance. His struggle gave us dignity and his life gave humanity a sense of direction on political freedom, social justice and racial equality.

Mandela lived for freedom and breath his last in the service of humanity. Mandela’s life was a flame that alighted our spirit and propelled us to the pursuit of our right to live and to flourish. Mandela represented the soul of racial equality and dignity for all men. Mandela gave voice to the voiceless and amplified the voice of those with courage to challenge evil.

Mandela was a light that shinned over a dark era of despicable cruelty and unmitigated evil. He was a tower that gave moral and physical muscle to a cause that frees humanity from the evil of some of its own. The world without Mandela could have been a world of unimaginable depravity.

Mandela was a rare gift to humanity, a moral leader for a world in persistent conflict between its essence and it’s reality.He lived an accomplished life of struggle. He died an accomplished dreamer. His sacrifice and the lessons of his life and history nourished the seeds of liberty and  flourished the petals of justice. His life was an inspiration for all people desirous of breaking the chains of their enslavement.

Mandela changed the world and asserted the supremacy of moral power over the facade of the might of fascism and  apartheid colonialism. Mandela advanced the frontiers of freedom by crashing the fences of color and prejudice. Mandela’s resilience strengthened the heart of the persecuted to fight for freedom and his tolerance and non violence charmed the heart of those he defeated.

Mandela’s fists gave humanity a reason to hope and his handshakes gave humanity a reason to love.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.

———————————-

Read this article in the Premium Times Newspapers

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.