NELSON Mandela Rolihlahla
Mandela, much loved 94-
year-old icon of the anti-
apartheid struggle is in the
news again over his health.
The world wants to see him
back on his feet again. We
wish him a quick recovery
while we ponder what
would have happened if he
had been a Nigerian leader,
former or present.
At his age, rumours of his
death have become routine.
Two years ago, the South
African government was
castigated for concealing his
illness for as long as it
thought necessary. Criticisms
about the media gag could
have forced government to
finally issue a statement.
It detailed the patient’s
progress, respecting his
privacy, but allayed public
fears about the state of the
former South African
President, who has
distinguished himself with
his care for humanity.
Worries about his health are
global, with millions of
internet users searching the
web for the latest
information on Mandela.
Mandela’s medical treatment
in South Africa raises
important points in the light
of the secrecy of our
governments, the penchant
of government officials for
medical facilities abroad, and
the consistently deplorable
state of our health services.
Are Nigerians told about
ailing public officials who are
flown abroad at public
expense?
Why do our officials neglect
our health facilities and
government officials only
visit them at commissioning
or to commiserate with
victims of major
emergencies? How would
our health system work
when those who supervise it
do not use it?
Mandela would not be flown
to any foreign hospital. He
had series of tests in South
Africa, under the guidance of
“The Defence Force which is
responsible for all medical
requirements and care of
current and retired
presidents,” according to a
government statement,
issued when he was ill in
January 2011. Nothing has
changed. He is still being
treated in South Africa under
the watch of the Defence
Force.
How do our leaders, past and
present feel, when they read
these lines that indict their
parochial policies? Do they
realise the security
implications of their medical
treatment abroad?
Concerns over Mandela
reflect global adoration for a
man who gave so much to
free South Africa from
apartheid. Mandela was
jailed for 27 years for
plotting an armed struggle
against South Africa’s
whites-only government. His
release facilitated processes
that ended apartheid and the
first all race elections which
the African National Congress
won in 1994 and Mandela
became President. He
voluntarily stepped down in
1999.
Nigerian leaders should have
cause to worry about
Nigeria. They are not
building a country that will
adore them as it adores
Mandela, nor one with
facilities that can treat its
leaders even if they suffer
something as minor as a
headache.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/had-mandela-been-nigerian/