We could have sold the fight for freedom for personal gains, but we stood our grounds – Gaddafi

Today on time with the ancestors, we will reconnect with Libyan revolutionary leader Colonel Gaddafi by having a look at one of the most relevant quotes from the archives.

Muammar Gaddafi once said that they (the free fighters) had every opportunity to relent on the fight for liberation and make individual wealth, but they never gave up. Read the exact quote below.

“Let the free people of the world know that we could have bargained over and sold out our cause in return for a personal secure and stable life. We received many offers to this effect, but we chose to be at the vanguard of the confrontation as a badge of duty and honor.”

There is a lot to learn from our father, Gaddafi, and this quote has its relevance well established in these contemporary times. What can we, especially the new crop of Pan-Africanist, learn from this?

Patriotism and the need to remain resolute on our resolve to seek true independence for Africa. The utmost need to keep an eye on and Prioritize the collective good over selfish interest. The moral strength to choose good over evil. The mental agility to see beyond instant gratification.

The people of old did their part to get us where we are today. They faced the gun and chain approach of colonialism as much as they could. We are facing neocolonialism. We equally have the chance to liberate future generations from the seemingly unbreakable shackles or further incapacitate them by yielding to selfish interest.

Our leadership today must equally be aware that, being puppets to Superpowers is a sign of selling the course for personal gain as implied by Colonel Gaddafi. Receiving kickbacks just to sign parasitic deals that later mortgages the continent is not an exclusion.

We have a long way to go and we need to keep an eye on the ultimate goal. The last thing to do at this time when a lot of Africans are rising against oppression and pushing for unity is to amplify selfish interest. Let’s take this lesson and stand firm till victory.