Gist Arena

As the remains of a great African icon, Nelson Mandela, the first South African post-apartheid President, are committed to mother earth today in Qunu, here are some of the memorable moments of Mandiba's life before his passage.  1918, July 18: Born Rolihlahla at Mvezo village in Transkei, one of 13 children in a family with connections to Thembu royalty. 1925: Attends primary school near Qunu. Teacher names him Nelson, in line with the custom at the time of giving English names to children. 1927: Entrusted to Paramount Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo after his father dies when he is nine-years-old. 1934: Circumcised. 1938: Matriculates from Healdtown Methodist boarding school and enrolls at the SA Native College of Fort Hare. 1940: Elected to Fort Hare student representative council, but is expelled after a student strike. 1941: Leaves for Johannesburg to avoid an arranged, tribal marriage. 1942: Starts articles at the law firm Witkin, Sidelsky and Eidelman. Completes BA de...

The Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday said political office holders steal state funds because Nigerians do not stone them. Amaechi, who said this in Lagos at an event organised to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela, challenged Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable. He said, "If you see a thief and you allow him to be stealing, what have you done? You have stoned nobody; that is why we are stealing. Who have you stoned? They came out and started dancing oil subsidy, oil subsidy. They told you that they stole N2.3trn, what did you do? "Instead you are protesting 'bring more oil subsidy'; the oil subsidy that is not reaching the poor. A few individuals are going away with the money and you have done nothing. You are mourning Madiba, who lived up to 95, and he was very angry with Nigeria when he died.