Reflections on power and history: Lessons from Ceaușescu's Romania
By Muhsin Ibrahim
History is essential for our understanding of the world. It tells us what happened in the past, why things are happening now (i.e. context) and what will likely happen in the future. Nothing beats this vital knowledge.
A few years ago, we arrived in Bucharest, the capital of Romania. On the flight, I read about some African dictators, from Addis Ababa to Bangui, Kampala to Kinshasa, among others. I kept imagining how those tyrants, whose regimes mostly ended in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, were thinking while reigning. Nevertheless, when we visited the house and massive parliament building of Nicolae Ceaușescu, the infamous Romanian communist dictator, everything fell into place.
Power is transient. Mr Ceaușescu ruled this Balkan country for 25 years. Going through some of the structures he left behind, one would assume he never thought of dying. However, in December 1989, demonstrations, riots and civil unrest against his totalitarianism broke out throughout the country. It soon led to his overthrow and death by a firing squad along with his highly influential wife.
Below are some pictures we took in his 80-room private residence and in front of the parliament building, the second-biggest administrative edifice in the world after the Pentagon.
The mansion has gold everywhere, including its luxury room-like toilet. There are also gifts from his like-minded despots, such as the Congo's Mobutu Sese Seko. For once today, my wife and I had to loudly declare that we are from Nigeria, not Congo, as everyone turned to look at us when the tour guide mentioned Muboto's name. :)
There are several lessons to learn from the lives of these notorious leaders. Although power corrupts, looking at their lives, one can effortlessly realise the end result of this corruption.
This world is vanity. Nobody lives forever. Thus, for posterity's sake, strive to be and remain on the right side of history. Also, as Muslims, for instance, we believe that prayer is one of the things that follows us even after our death.
May our tomorrow be better than today, amin.
By Muhsin Ibrahim
History is essential for our understanding of the world. It tells us what happened in the past, why things are happening now (i.e. context) and what will likely happen in the future. Nothing beats this vital knowledge.
A few years ago, we arrived in Bucharest, the capital of Romania. On the flight, I read about some African dictators, from Addis Ababa to Bangui, Kampala to Kinshasa, among others. I kept imagining how those tyrants, whose regimes mostly ended in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, were thinking while reigning. Nevertheless, when we visited the house and massive parliament building of Nicolae Ceaușescu, the infamous Romanian communist dictator, everything fell into place.
Power is transient. Mr Ceaușescu ruled this Balkan country for 25 years. Going through some of the structures he left behind, one would assume he never thought of dying. However, in December 1989, demonstrations, riots and civil unrest against his totalitarianism broke out throughout the country. It soon led to his overthrow and death by a firing squad along with his highly influential wife.
Below are some pictures we took in his 80-room private residence and in front of the parliament building, the second-biggest administrative edifice in the world after the Pentagon.
The mansion has gold everywhere, including its luxury room-like toilet. There are also gifts from his like-minded despots, such as the Congo's Mobutu Sese Seko. For once today, my wife and I had to loudly declare that we are from Nigeria, not Congo, as everyone turned to look at us when the tour guide mentioned Muboto's name. :)
This world is vanity. Nobody lives forever. Thus, for posterity's sake, strive to be and remain on the right side of history. Also, as Muslims, for instance, we believe that prayer is one of the things that follows us even after our death.
May our tomorrow be better than today, amin.
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