One Nigerian leader that could have hastened Mandela's release from prison or an outright military confrontation with the Apartheid regime in South Africa was Murtala Mohammed.Said “When I contemplate the evils of apartheid, my heart bleeds and I am sure the heart of every true blooded African bleeds...” speech at the OAU heads of state extraordinary meeting in Addis Ababa on January 9,1976 shocked the world.He was killed 32 days after this speech.
I assume Obasanjo acted on Murtala's wish and convened the largest World Conference for Action against Apartheid on August 1977 in Lagos that brought men like Olof Palme,the Swedish prime minister.ANC leader at the time Oliver Tambo wept in Lagos over the death of Mohammed.
There was a time all of Africa looked up to their big brother...
By
Chika Omeje
