Jonathan snubbed at Mandela's funeral service •No speaking role or tribute
The name of President Goodluck Jonathan was conspicuously missing from the programme for today's Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela's Official Memorial Service at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The programme published by the Host Broadcaster, SABC, includes tributes by Heads of State from the various regions of the globe, the continent and representatives of international and regional organisations. Eminent persons will also address the gathering but the name of President Jonathan is not one of them despite the fact that Nigeria played a key role in South Africa's independence.
The programme indicates that there will be tributes by presidents of the USA, Brazil, Cuba, India and Namibia.
Official Programme
Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and Ms Baleka Mbete
11:00 – 15:00
National Anthem: Mass Choir
Welcome and Opening Remarks: Programme Directors
Interfaith Prayers
Tribute by Family Friend: Andrew Mlangeni
Tribute by Family: General Thanduxolo Mandela
Tribute by the Grandchildren: Mbuso Mandela
Andile Mandela
Zozuko Dlamini
Phumla Mandela
Tribute by UN Representative: Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
Tribute by AU Commission Chair: Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
Tribute by Foreign Dignitaries: President Barack Obama (USA)
President Dilma Rousseff (Brazil)
Vice-President Li Yuanchao (China)
President Hifikepunye Pohamba (Namibia)
President Pranab Mukherjee (India)
President Raúl Castro Ruz (Cuba)
Keynote Address by the President of the Republic of South Africa:
His Excellency Jacob Zuma
Sermon: Bishop Ivan Abrahams
Vote of Thanks: Premier of Gauteng, Nomvula Mokonyane
List of Members of State attending:
USA, President Barack Obama and former president; Bush, Clinton and Carter:
Afghanistan, His Excellency Hamid Karzai, President
Mozambique, President of Mozambique, HE Armando Emilio Guebuza
Algeria, His Excellency Mr Abdelkader Bensalah, Speaker of the Council of the Nation (Senate) – rank above the Prime Minister
Namibia, His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, President
Angola, His Excellency Mr Manuel Vicente, Vice President
Niger, His Excellency Issoufou Mahamdou, President
Argentina, Mr Amado Boudou, Acting President of Argentina
New Zealand, Right Hon John Key, Prime Minister
Australia, His Excellency Mr Tony Abbott, MP, Prime Minister
Nigeria, His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan, President
Bahamas, Right Honourable Perry Christie, Prime Minister
Niger, His Excellency Mahamadou, President of Niger
Bangladesh, His Excellency Mr Md. Abdul Hamid MD ABDUL, President
Norway, His Royal Highness Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
Belgium, His Royal Highness King Philippe
Pakistan, His Excellency Mr Mamnoon Hussain, President
Benin, His Excellency Boni Yayi, President
Palestinian State, His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas, President
Botswana, His Excellency Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President
Portugal, His Excellency, Anibal Cavaco Silva, President
Brazil, Her Excellency Dilma Rousseff, President
Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince
Burundi, His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, President
Saharawi Republic, His Excellency Mr Mohamed Abdelaziz, President
Canada, His Excellency Stephen Harper, Prime Minister
Senegal, His Excellency Macky Sall, President
CHAD, His Excellency Mr Idriss Deby Itno, President
Serbia, His Excellency Tomislav Nikolic, President
China, His Excellency Li Yuanchao, Vice President,
Seychelles, His Excellency Mr James Alix MICHEL
COMORES, His Excellency Dr Ikiliou Dhoinine, President
Spain, His Royal Highness Felipe de Borbon, The Prince of Asturias
Congo (Republic of the Congo), His Excellency Mr Denis Sassou-Nguesso, President
Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President
Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo), His Excellency Joseph Kabila, President
Suriname, His Excellency Desire Delano Bouterse, President
Cote d Ivoire, His Excellency President Allassane Ouattara, President
Slovenia, His Excellency Pahor, President
Croatia, His Excellency Josipovic Ivo, President
South Sudan, His Excellency General Salva Kir Mayardit, President
Cuba, His Excellency Raul Castro Ruz, President
Sweden, His Royal Highness Victoria, Prime Minister
Denmark, His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Federick
Switzerland, His Excellency Mr Ulrich Maurer, President
Djibouti, His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, President
Swaziland, His Excellency Dr Sibusiso Dlamini, Prime Minister
Ethiopia, His Excellency Ato Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister
Suriname, His Excellency Desire Delano Bouterse, President
Equatorial Guinea, His Excellency Mr Obiang Mbasogo, President
Tanzania, His Excellency Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President
France, His Excellency, Francois Hollande, President
Timor-Leste, His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana, Prime Minister
Finland, His Excellency Sauli Niinisto, President
Tunisia, His Excellency Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, President
Gabon, His Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba, President
Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister
The Gambia, His Excellency Prof Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, President Sheikh
Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kagota Museveni, President
Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President
United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Sheikh Nayahan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture – Special Envoy of the Emir
Germany, His Excellency Joachim Gauck, President
United Kingdom, His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prime Minister David Cameron
Guyana, His Excellency Donald Ramotar, President
Venezuela, His Excellency Nicolas Maduro Moros, President
Guinea, His Excellency Prof Alpha Conde, President
Zimbabwe, His Excellency Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President
India, His Excellency Pranab Mukherjee, President
Zambia His Excellency Michael Sata, President
Ireland, His Excellency Michael D Higgins, President
Arab States League, His Excellency Amb Samir Hosny, Minister
Italy, His Excellency Enrico Letta, Prime Minister
African Union Commission, Her Excellency Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson
Japan, His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Naruhito
Commonwealth, His Excellency, Mr Kamalesh Sharma
Jamaica, Her Excellency, Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister
European Council, His Excellency Mr Herman van Rompuy, President
Jordan, Her Royal Highness, Queen Rania Al Abdullah and His Excellency Prime Minister Dr Abdullah Ensour
Mexico, His Excellency Enrique Pena Nieto President of Mexico
Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President
Mauritius, His Excellency Dr the Honourable Navinchandra, Prime Minister
Korea (South), His Excellency Hongwon Chung, Prime Minister
Mauritania, His Excellency Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President
Lebanon, His Excellency Mr Najib Mikati, Prime Minister
Malawi, Her Excellency Joyce Banda, President
Lesotho, His Excellency, T Thabane, Prime Minister
Grand Duchy of LUXEMBOURG, His Royal Highness Henry of Luxembourg, The Grand Duke
Liberia, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President
Nigeria being the 'Giant of Africa' as acclaimed, President Goodluck Jonathan should have been allotted a role, at least a tribute in the event of this magnitude and importance.