It is a year since South African legend, Neslon Mandela died, so we take a look at his first visit to Nigeria after he was released from prison in 1990.
ANC Vice President, Nelson Mandela was released from prison on February 11th, 1990. He went on a thank you tour of countries that had supported the anti-apartheid struggle. This, of course, included Nigeria, which had provided funds, training and sanctuary to the ANC. Mr Mandela had stayed in Nigeria in 1962. He lived in the home of Chief Mbazulike Amaechi (The Boy Is Good) at the request of Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe (the Governor General of Nigeria and Chief Mbazulike's leader in the NCNC). Dr Mandela met with Mbazulike and Azikiwe in 1990, to thank them for their assistance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlRMmNhsg9Y
The video opens with a shot of a banner at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport. It reads, "Nigeria Salutes NELSON MANDELA - A Man Of Courage And Pride Of Africa".
Nelson Mandela delivers his speech at the National Stadium, Surulere. He thanked General Obasanjo for his work with the Eminent Persons Group (particularly for visiting him in prison in 1986).
Then we see the arrival of the Minister of External Affairs, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman. The next shot shows the arrival of the Lagos State Governor, Colonel Raji Rasaki (the Action Governor). We also see a CVU S-Class Mercedes Benz (W126) that has been parked at the entrance to the Presidential Lounge. There are several Honda Goldwing motorcycles at the gate of the Presidential Lounge. We also see several cultural troupes at the car park.
LASG1. Colonel Raji Rasaki (the Action Governor) arrives the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport.
Finally we see the arrival of the Chief Of General Staff, Vice Admiral Augustus Aikhomu. He is received at the entrance to the Presidential Lounge by Colonel Rasaki. He acknowledges the performance of the cultural troupes and goes inside the lounge.
GHQ2. Admiral Aikhomu arrives the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport.
The Angolan Airlines plane carrying Dr. Mandela is seen taxing down to its designated spot. It is closely followed by a Nigerian Army Pinzgauer. Admiral Aikhomu leads the Nigerian delegation to the steps of the plane. We see the crew descend from the plane, then Ambassador Sipho George Nene, long time representative of Namibia's South West African Peoples Organisation (SWAPO) and South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) in Nigeria, leads Dr and Mrs. Mandela down from the plane.
Admiral Aikhomu greets the Mandelas and introduces them to members of the Nigerian delegation. There's the usual pushing and shoving between journalists on one hand and soldiers, naval ratings and SSS operatives on the other.
Admiral Aikhomu leads the Mandelas to the car park where the cultural troupes are performing. Winnie Mandela points out a guy on stilts and Admiral Aikhomu invites the Mandelas to go and have a closer look.
Aikhomu and Nelson Mandela get into the CVU Mercedes (Winnie Mandela is ushered into another CVU Mercedes) and they make their way to the National Stadium for the civic reception.
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