Sheikh Zayed's Demise Marks an End and a Beginning
And Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder and president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was such a man.
His death on Nov. 2 sent shockwaves across the nation and the region, according to the Inter-Press Service News Agency.
''Words are not enough to describe him. He was our father figure, brother, leader, and ruler and turned this country from a desert to a lush green, prosperous federation. We will be lost without him,'' The IPS said quoting Saeed Al Muhairi, a UAE national.
His words echo the thoughts of millions of mourners worldwide - http://www.sheikh-zayed.info, a tribute website, recorded around 20,000 hits an hour since last Tuesday evening and reached over two million hits in total, and from 70 countries, by the weekend.
He devoted all his energy and oil revenues to modernise the country -converting a dry barren land into a gleaming green, chrome and glass marvel. Given that the first mud road was laid only in 1961 under his supervision, it is his remarkable foresight that the UAE is today a force to reckon with on the globe, boasting a very high per capita income and some of the world's best infrastructure, said the Rome-based IPS in an obituary of Sheikh Zayed.
It was to his credit that while turning the UAE into a modern state, he never left his traditional Bedouin roots. In his words, ''The present is only an extension of the past. He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and future, for it is from the past that we learn...The new generation should have a proper appreciation of the role played by their forefathers.'' ''The sight of Sheikh Zayed astride his horse with a falcon on his shoulder inspires nationalist feelings in every Arab. He helped us use our oil income to make the UAE a leading player in world politics. Who would have known 40-45 years back that we will be living in such comfort and luxury now?'' said Muhammed Al Nuaimi, an elderly national.
Vinod Rathod, a Dubai-based Indian businessman, said, ''The expatriate community shares the deep sense of loss with the nationals. He was a pillar of strength and never discriminated on the basis of race or nationality.
We pay tribute to him for the man and leader that he was.'' A true Arab nationalist, Sheikh Zayed worked ceaselessly for Arab unity, staunchly supported the Palestinian cause and was the first Arab ruler to stop oil exports to countries supporting Israel in the 1973 embargo.
Ahmad Goweili, secretary-general of the Arab Economic Union Council, was quoted in the local media as saying, ''He is among the few leaders who played a big role in closing Arab ranks...His contributions extended to virtually all Arab countries.
Sheikh Zayed leaves behind a legacy in the hands of his son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is now the president. A statement that Sheikh Khalifa made in 1990 is a telling one and indicates the path that he will follow: ''My father is my teacher. I learn something from him every day, follow his path and absorb from him his values, and the need for patience and prudence in all things.'' He said, ''I will continue with the 'open door' policy and with the practice of holding regular consultations with the country's citizens, so that I may become aware of, and follow up on, their needs and concerns.'' Sheikh Khalifa is no new entrant to such a weighty inheritance - a task that he has set himself for nearly 30 years, since he became Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE in 1969. In 1976, following the unification of the Armed Forces of the seven emirates, Sheikh Khalifa became its deputy supreme commander.
Since the late 1980s, he has been chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council - a key decision-making body - that he used to ensure that the country diversified its economy away from oil and gas.
A strong supporter of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, Sheikh Khalifa believes that the success and achievements of this body will reflect the depth of understanding reached among its leaders.
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