By Chinwe Ochu
Yesterday, Thursday, October 20, 2011, Africaand Arab’s longest serving ruler, Muomar Gaddafi was brutally murdered on the streets of Sirte, the land of his birth. The truck he was travelling with was reportedly intercepted and Gaddafi was accosted. He was shot and while still alive, his body dragged about the city to his death. In a simple term, he died like an animal; not even a pet. Being one of the most atrocious ways to die, his murder has precipitated world- wide rejoicing; and reasonably so. This man ruledLibya for 42 years and in the process stepped on toes (mostly Western toes). No wonder they wanted his head. There is therefore a flip- side.
Not going the religious route but human beings are reported to have been made in the image of the creator. In essence, there is a wide margin between us and animals. When has the death of a human being become occasions for merriment? Granted, Gaddafi was made out to be a de-facto monster but even then did he do what other world leaders have not done? What world leader does not murder, oppress, even enrich himself and people close to him while in power? What world leader does not do anything in their power to retain incumbency? What world leader does not engage in inhuman, sometimes illegal practises to protect their own? For example the United States of America and Barack Obama. What are ‘security agencies’ like the CIA, FBI and NIA there for? Do they not train spies (assassins) that constantly kill America’s enemies? Who are we fooling?
The fact that Muomar Gaddafi had his excesses does not make him different from Barack Obama. Naturally, for one to be a leader in this crazy world, one has to deviate from being human. Gaddafi’s 42-year rule was marked by violence, yes but was that all we should remember him for? In the process of ridding Libya of Western interference, he hurt people.
Only an African without knowledge of his history will rejoice over Gaddafi’s murder. He wanted and constantly fought for a United States of Africa to rival theUSandEurope. While other African leaders just paid lip-service to achieving this vision; pretending to like the idea, Gaddafi was solo in seriously putting it into practice. What is wrong with that idea? This Gaddafi was instrumental to the formation of the African Union, being its Chairman even at the time of his death.
This ‘monster’ was an epitome of citizen diplomacy. He protected Libyans from being messed with by foreign governments. Nigerians, can you confidently say that your President cares about you? Can we say that our government is always there to shield us when we need it? Because of the kind of leader Gaddafi was, during the 1990s Libya endured economic and diplomatic sanctions for his refusal to hand over two Libyans accused of planting a bomb on Pan Am Flight 103 which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland.
This Muomar Gaddafi was also instrumental with the ousting of the Apartheid government in South Africans. Through his financial and moral support, South Africans fought for their liberation. They are happier for it as Nelson Mandela even named one of his grandsons- Gaddafi. And yet he is such a terrible addition to mankind and should die like an animal?
One life to God is equally important that 45 million lives. Granted, people died during his reign. It’s fair to say that any ruler who holds power for that long will have the same rap sheet. It is indeed disgusting to see how low humans have descended in celebrating a murder. It is also hypocritical to believe we all are better humans than Gadaffi. By your thoughts, words or actions everyone of us has killed another. If we all have the power that Gaddafi had, would we not carry out our threats on a daily basis? How many lives will be preserved if that was the case?
Have you either refused or delayed payment to a menial worker after labouring for you, while he goes home to a hungry wife and sick child? Then, you are a Gaddafi. Have you hurt someone, maybe a lover to the extent that he/ she goes home and cries to the Creator? You are at that point a Gaddafi. Have you in anyway oppressed someone to the point of where the person prays for death to come take him? People die in various ways. One might claim not to be a murderer but some of our actions or inactions hurt people daily to the point of hopelessness.
Unpopular opinions this may be but we need to look in the mirror. No one deserves to die like Muomar Gaddafi died. Even Osama Bin Laden had a more merciful death. There is a Gaddafi in each of us. It then depends on every individual to either exploit or suppress his inner- Gaddafi.
11 comments
Gadafi deserved what he got. Anybody can say what hep/she wants,but for a man that brain-washed his people,killed them,imposed his wishes and “idiologies” on them,supported terrorism on foreign countries, something worse than this is what he deserve. Those who have lived under his fist came out to rejoice at his death,so this piece of sentiment is uncalled for
I disagree. No one deserves to be dragged through the streets while covered in blood and left to die. The rebels had even promised before that such revenge would not occur. I don’t support what Gaddafi had done as ruler of Libya, but at the same time this is just sickening to see. He’s right about what he said in the video. “This is wrong! Do you know right from wrong?” Obviously these rebels didn’t at the time. I don’t feel sorry for him losing his regime, but I do feel sorry for the fact that the rebels turned away from their promise to handle this justly, brutally murdered him and that they made a show out of this brutality that they carried out.
Kevin you wouldn’t understand, and neither does the US, it’s not every country that really does well with democracy, Gaddafi kept libya under sanity and good control, yes he had his bad side also but you should know also that this was the same man that did what the useless Nigerian leaders couldn’t do, He turned in the dividends of Oil to the betterment of his people and controlling the west. That alone is good for me as a Nigerian, and yes Nigerian leaders have done worse and and done nothing, see them talking bout increasing oil price to 200, Militants, boko haram etc…
A dollar is equal to 1.2LD (Libyan Dinars) and they even export as much Oil as we do
Instead of the war, and all they could have drafted out a solution just like Fidel Castro in Cuba, but as we call them Rebels, who just want to topple the government without and vision, Well lets see how the NTC then
Kevin you wouldn’t understand, and neither does the US, it’s not every country that really does well with democracy, Gaddafi kept libya under sanity and good control, yes he had his bad side also but you should know also that this was the same man that did what the useless Nigerian leaders couldn’t do, He turned in the dividends of Oil to the betterment of his people and controlling the west. That alone is good for me as a Nigerian, and yes Nigerian leaders have done worse and and done nothing, see them talking bout increasing oil price to 200, Militants, boko haram etc…
A dollar is equal to 1.2LD (Libyan Dinars) and they don’t even export as much Oil as we do
Instead of the war, and all they could have drafted out a solution just like Fidel Castro in Cuba, but as we call them Rebels, who just want to topple the government without strategy and vision, Well lets see how well the NTC does then since it i what the Libyan people want.
Wat so ever we did in dis world wil folow u to ur grave,pple ar hapi of his death becouse is bad
Enuf said, I agree wit d fact dt der’s a Gaddafi in evryone of Us, if only we can b truthful 2 ourselves. Americans knw wat dey’r doin n it’s obvious dt Libya is one of d highest oil producing nations of d World, as such deir interest. Deir aim is 2 rule d world bt Africans are so gullible nt 2 C it. D same way dey colonised us in d past, it’s happening again, n we stupidly tink dt dey’r fighting 4 World Peace my foot! Luk at Iraq, dev taken over, okie! Let’s c d aftermath of Libya. Dey’r gunning 4 us(Nigeria) n I knw dt we’l foolishly oblige dem. One tin I knw is,deir intentions are nt as noble as dey make it seem!
He that lives by the sword dies by the sword. I think that is justice in logic. I love what Gadafi did for libya. The free housing projects,the marriage benefits,citizenship benefits,converting libya oil money for “libya” and so on. But the execution of opposition figures both home and abroad,sponsoring terrorism,making the government a family business and funding war in impoverished countries,i strongly stand against. If you disagree,ask libyans who wore the shoes of gadafi’s regime. They know where it pinches and that is why they came out from the free houses,in clothes bought with gadafi’s benefits to protest against a cruel regime. I wouldn’t even have minded if he was clubbed,his brains painting the street and his intestine used as bandoliers
for me they would not have kill Gadhafi,they would have allowed him to conduct election as was proposed by AFRICAN UNION then if he lose & refuse to step down then dey have d reason to supply weapons to his opponents.Gadhafi would have kill himself for him to be a real legend of Africa
African union? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Elections? Ouch. Talking with the feet in the mouth
Whatever we sow we will reap.
No matter what he did, he should not have been murdered, beaten and dragged in the street. after his capture, he became a prisoner of war and there are ways prisoner of war are treated, what hurt me most was when they filmed the act with mobile phones…. how so very very heinous