President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday joined world leaders and other well meaning people from across the world for the national memorial service for the first black President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.
President Jonathan left Abuja late last night and arrived Johannesburg in the early hours of Tuesday right on time for the memorial event.
According to the BBC, the service is being held in front of a vociferous crowd in the FNB stadium in Johannesburg.
US President Barack Obama said Mr Mandela was a “giant of history”, adding: “The world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us”.
The former South African president died last Thursday, aged 95.
The country is observing a series of commemorations leading up to the funeral on Sunday.
“It took a man like Madiba to free not just the prisoner but the jailer,” US President Barack Obama said to a standing ovation. He said Nelson Mandela embodied the sprit of “uBuntu”, which means “I am because you are”.
Thousands braved the unseasonably cold weather and rain to pay their respects to the country’s first black president at the FNB stadium in Soweto.
This is where he addressed the nation on the day of his release in 1990. His grandchildren said they saluted him for his vision, for seeing the future when many didn’t. The world has joined in the memorial – with more than 90 countries represented here.
The crowds were in high spirits but were asked to “behave” after booing President Jacob Zuma a number of times. However, this is a big moment for Mr Zuma, the president who is overseeing the burial of South Africa’s most loved citizen, the father of the nation.
The memorial service is one of the biggest gatherings of international dignitaries in recent years.
There had been fears people would be turned away, but the heavy rain left areas of the 95,000 capacity stadium empty.
Introducing the proceedings, the master of ceremonies, Cyril Ramaphosa, said that Mr Mandela’s “long walk is over… and he can finally rest”.
The first speaker, friend and fellow Robben Island inmate Andrew Mlangeni, said Mr Mandela had “created hope when there was none”.
Mr Obama delivered his address, carried on the White House web site, to huge cheers. He said: “It is hard to eulogise any man… how much harder to do so for a giant of history, who moved a nation towards justice.”
He said Nelson Mandela had taught the world the power of action and the power of ideas, and that it had taken a man like Mr Mandela to free not only the prisoner but also the jailer.
Mr Obama said: “We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. While I will always fall short of Madiba (Mr Mandela’s clan name), he makes me want to be a better man.”
On his way to the podium, President Obama shook hands with Cuban President Raul Castro, an unprecedented gesture between the leaders of two nations that have been at loggerheads for more than half a century.
Barack Obama was cheered as he acknowledged the crowd
The service is expected to last about four hours
Ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela hugs widow Graca Machel
In his address, Mr Castro paid tribute to Mr Mandela as the “ultimate symbol of dignity and the revolutionary struggle”.
Under his brother, Fidel, Cuba was a staunch critic of apartheid, and Mr Mandela had expressed gratitude for that support.
In his speech, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said there was “sorrow for a mighty loss and celebration of a mighty life”.
He said: “South Africa has lost a hero, it has lost a father… He was one of our greatest teachers. He taught by example. He sacrificed so much and was willing to give up all he had for freedom and democracy.”
BBC
