Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned xenophobic attacks against African migrants in South Africa, saying Nigeria played a crucial role in the struggle that ultimately brought an end to apartheid in the country.
Obasanjo made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Ikem Okuhu on C-Suite Café, while reflecting on Nigeria’s historical role in the fight against white minority rule in southern Africa.
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military head of state from 1976 to 1979, said Nigeria’s opposition to apartheid was driven by the belief that no black person should be regarded as inferior because of their race.
“We were not doing what we did in South Africa or in Southern Africa or decolonisation anywhere for our personal gain or for our country. We did it for our race,” he said.
“I believe that no black man anywhere or black person anywhere should be regarded as inferior human being because of his colour.”
He described Nigeria’s approach as a form of enlightened self-interest but said the country should be proud of its contribution to the liberation struggle rather than expect repayment from South Africa.
According to Obasanjo, South Africa would not have ended apartheid when it did without Nigeria’s support.
He cited Nigeria’s collaboration with a number of international and African leaders, including former United States ambassador to the United Nations Andy Young, former US President Jimmy Carter, former British Prime Minister James Callaghan, Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere, Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda, Mozambique’s Samora Machel and Sweden’s Olof Palme.
Obasanjo said the cooperation was instrumental in advancing the campaign against apartheid and achieving the eventual transition to majority rule.
Obasanjo faults South African response to attacks
Turning to the treatment of African migrants in South Africa, the former president criticised the country’s leadership for failing to address xenophobic violence appropriately.
He acknowledged that some migrants may have entered South Africa illegally or been involved in criminal activities, but said such circumstances could not justify mob violence.
“I do not believe that you use illegality to treat illegality, asking and encouraging ‘area boys and area girls’ to break into their houses and break into their shops,” he said.
Obasanjo also argued that xenophobic attacks were contrary to both South Africa’s interests and those of the wider African continent.
He questioned the proportion of migrants blamed for taking jobs from South Africans and noted that some foreign nationals also create employment and contribute to the economy.
“Some of them are also job creators. Some of them; I won’t say all of them,” he said.
He further questioned the economic consequences of removing migrants accused of taking jobs from South Africans.
ANC faces pressure over economic challenges
Obasanjo acknowledged the difficulties facing the African National Congress (ANC) in meeting the expectations of ordinary South Africans, but said similar challenges were affecting countries across the continent.
He said economic hardship and unmet public expectations were not unique to South Africa, pointing to Nigeria and Kenya as examples.
“The expectation of the ordinary people is not being met in Nigeria. The expectation of the ordinary people is not being met in Kenya. The expectation of the ordinary people is not being met in almost all countries in Africa,” he said.
However, he maintained that such frustrations should not be addressed through attacks on migrants.
Obasanjo argued that African integration and unity could not be achieved by responding to alleged illegality with further illegality, urging African countries to pursue cooperation rather than hostility towards one another.
