Liberation requires men who are protectors, not perpetrators. South Africans remember that your freedom from apartheid received strong support from Nigeria.
Though South Africa became the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910, gaining independence from Britain, the end of apartheid came with the first democratic, non-racial elections held on April 27, 1994. Nelson Mandela was elected and inaugurated as President on May 10, 1994.
General Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria’s military Head of State from August 27, 1985 to August 26, 1993, left office before South Africa’s first democratic elections on April 27, 1994. However, Nigeria under his leadership strongly backed the anti-apartheid struggle diplomatically and financially.
Thabo Mbeki lived in Nigeria for 7 years during exile and served as the ANC representative in Nigeria from 1976 to 1978.
The Nigerian government provided financial assistance, diplomatic support, and leadership toward human capital development in South Africa during the apartheid struggle and post-apartheid period. Nigeria was a key member of the Frontline States and chaired the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid. This support by Nigeria and other African countries became increasingly strategic toward the end of apartheid.
Nigeria supported Mandela during his underground travels in the early 1960.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings confirmed that Ghana under his leadership gave $1 million to Nelson Mandela during the anti-apartheid struggle. He said: “When Mandela was going round the world soliciting for funds and he came here for support we were privileged to contribute $1 million”.
Should Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso assume leadership, they must as a matter of urgency address the xenophobic attacks against Africans in South Africa, as it requires an opportunity to meet and discuss through the African Union, benchmarking a solution to change the way South Africans see other Africans. Africa is a continent-wide network in agriculture, manufacturing, and industrialization with abundant human capacity, energy, natural resources, and potential for protection and development.
A Peter Obi-led administration must pursue the fight against corruption and manipulation that has eluded the African Union Charter, and if Nigerian President come 2027, Peter Obi must immediately advance Nigeria’s foreign policy from seeing Africa as her concentric circle to addressing the African Union on the circumstances that collectively affect us today regarding the xenophobic situation.
Other fundamental issues that need to be urgently addressed by a future Peter Obi administration are military coups and counter-coups in Africa as they undermine democratic values and principles. Reinforcing constitutional democracy and its ideals will help stabilize democratic administration in Africa.
Nigeria, as the hub of African development and growth, must under a Peter Obi-led leadership institute a new system to address the xenophobic situation, especially in South Africa and partly in Ghana where xenophobic attacks have surged and become heinous, and address the issues of military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Guinea, and Madagascar.
Nigeria’s foreign policy must build the continent of Africa by instituting a new system to deal with such reprehensible situations that remind Africa of her past slavery, exploitation, and the inequality created by colonialism. Africa must liberate itself from such experiences.
In my opinion as an academic writer, Africans must create a society of generosity that transcends boundaries in Africa and beyond. We all share the same values and experiences. Our faith, trust, and beliefs should not undermine our relationship as Africans. Our struggle and unity must be certain, with renewed resolve to build and support a united Africa unbowed to weakness.