Mandela: Lawyers pay tribute
Mandela studied Law at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa and in 1944, he joined the Africa National Congress (ANC) where he mobilised resistance against racial discrimination in the country.Perhaps beside other lawyers like Mahatma Gandhi of India and Martin Luther King of USA, no other individual has contributed immensely to the deepening of civil […]
Mandela studied Law at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa and in 1944, he joined the Africa National Congress (ANC) where he mobilised resistance against racial discrimination in the country.
Perhaps beside other lawyers like Mahatma Gandhi of India and Martin Luther King of USA, no other individual has contributed immensely to the deepening of civil rights, liberties and human rights across the globe like Mandela. Many lawyers in Nigeria have joined many across the world in paying tributes to a departed colleague.
Okey Wali (SAN), President NBA :
It is with sadness that the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, received the news of the death of Africa’s foremost freedom fighter and human rights activist, Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela was an iconic leader, freedom fighter and human rights activist who used his training as a lawyer to serve, not only his people in South Africa, but the entire humanity. He demonstrated the role a lawyer should play in the interest of the public, which should serve as a lesson to lawyers worldwide.
As we celebrate his life, we should embrace his legacy and ideals for which he lived and died. May his soul rest in peace.
Chief Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN):
It is a pity and very unfortunate that we lost a world figure; someone whose name was a household not just in South Africa but the entire world.
I first came across Mandela when I was in School of Basic Studies (SBS) Maiduguri in 1981 through a book on poems: ‘Letters to Martha’, written in honour of Nelson Mandela.
He was a lawyer who contributed immensely to civil liberties and freedom. He was the father of Africa, democracy, anti-apartheid, anti-colonialism and neo-colonialism and oppression.
Indeed, one good man with leadership with fear of God, vision, dexterity and human face has gone. I don’t know who will step into his shoes. We are grateful that God kept him till 95 years. We pray that He will receive him in His bosom.
Mandela’s demise is a big lesson to us on life and human existent. It teaches us about life of philanthropy and selflessness. He stood for the Biblical injunction: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
His story should be distributed to all and sundry so that people will learn how he lived.
Chief Awa Kalu (SAN):
The late Nelson Mandela was incomparable in terms of the principled and uncompromising stand he took against apartheid and the monstrous injustice it represented. He was what no other person in recent history has been.
Rotimi Oguneso (SAN):
Mandela was the greatest human being of the century. He was a true leader who knows what to do at the appropriate time and how to do it.
He turned around South Africa from a pariah state to a place where the whole world now want to go.
The way he preached reconciliation and forgiveness, if he had not done that South Africa would have been in a state of war.
Reconciliation and forgiveness was not popular among the ANC but a leader which he was knows that leadership is not a matter of popularity contest. Popular decision is not always a correct decision.
On the rule of law: Mandela showed he believed in the rule of law by example. In 1998 as president, he set up the commission of inquiry into the management of the game of rugby. Someone challenged him on the constitutionality and the matter went to court. The question in the proceedings was whether President Mandela had satisfied himself before setting up the commission or that he just rubber stamped the views of a cabinet minister. Mandela swore to a detailed affidavit before the court showing how he came to his decision to set up the commission of inquiry. The judge instead of being satisfied with the affidavit made an order for Mandela to appear before him on the content of the affidavit.
There was outrage against the court order made by the judge against the revered Mandela.
Mandela had opted to apply to set aside the subpoena but because he wanted to teach his people the importance of rule of law and leading by example, he appeared before the court.
He did not just appear but he informed the court of his resentment to that court order and his Office. He sat in the witness box and answered the questions put to him for four hours as a sitting president and the character and dignity of his office.
Barrister Abubakar Sani, (Abuja based activist):
Although he was more known for his political activism than the practice of law, nevertheless he was still a great icon and role model for everyone, including lawyers. However, I don’t endorse his belief in violent change. Rather, I subscribe to the philosophy of our own Gani Fawehinmi of non- violent change using the instrumentality of law, regardless of the circumstances. To that extent, Gani is more of my icon, professionally, than Mandela. May both their souls rest in peace.
Barrister Abdul Mahmud:
His death is sad for Africa. He was a great lawyer who dedicated his life to the defence of law and constitutionalism. Throughout the Rivonia trial, he affirmed his belief in justice anchored by morality and truth; and all racial laws. Mandela challenges lawyers to stay the course of truth.