Obama extends warm wishes for Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday

US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama offered their warmest wishes and prayers to former South African President Nelson Mandela on his 95th birthday, according to a White house statement released early Thursday. The Obamas extended their warm wishes to the Mandela family, the government and people of South Africa as they mark the fifth annual Nelson Mandela International Day. "On Nelson Mandela International Day, people everywhere have the opportunity to honor 'Madiba' (Nelson Mandela) through individual and collective acts of service. Through our own lives, by heeding his example, we can honor the man who showed his own people, and the world, the path to justice, equality, and freedom," they said in a statement. "May Nelson Mandela's life of service to others and his unwavering commitment to equality, reconciliation, and human dignity continue to be a beacon for each future generation seeking a more just and prosperous world." Recently, the ailing Mandela was hospitalized with a recurring lung infection where he spent his birthday.