-
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria played a decisive role in the struggle that dismantled apartheid in South Africa, insisting that the country would not have achieved majority rule when it did without Nigeria’s sustained support.
-
Obasanjo says Nigeria’s intervention in the anti-apartheid campaign was driven by a principle of Black dignity and racial equality, stressing that the country did not fight apartheid for personal or national gain.
-
The former president condemns xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa, warning that immigration violations or criminality cannot justify attacks on migrants, their homes or businesses.
-
Obasanjo says South Africa’s treatment of fellow Africans is inconsistent with the spirit of the liberation struggle, while suggesting that political and economic frustrations should not be allowed to turn migrants into scapegoats.
September 14, (THEWILL) – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused South Africa of betraying the spirit of African solidarity for which Nigeria fought during the country’s struggle against apartheid.
Obasanjo said Nigeria stood by South Africans when the country was under white minority rule, insisting that Nigerians and other Africans sacrificed for the liberation of South Africa because they believed that no Black person should be treated as an inferior human being on account of skin colour.
Speaking in an interview on C-Suite Cafe, hosted by Ikem Okuhu, the former president said Nigeria’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle was never motivated by the expectation of personal or national rewards.
“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. I believe that no Black man anywhere or Black person anywhere should be regarded as an inferior human being because of his colour. That was the principle; we stuck with it and fought for it”, he said.
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as civilian president between 1999 and 2007, said Nigerians should remain proud of the country’s role in the anti-apartheid struggle.
“And for me—and I believe for Nigeria at that time and even now—we should be proud of what we did because without Nigeria, South Africa would not have got rid of apartheid when it got rid of it. That is true”, he said.
Nigeria’s Fight Against Apartheid
Nigeria was one of the most prominent African countries to mobilise political, diplomatic and material support for the campaign against apartheid and white minority rule in Southern Africa.
At a time when apartheid denied the Black majority in South Africa fundamental political and civil rights, Nigeria consistently used its diplomatic influence to oppose the system and support the broader liberation struggle.
The country’s position formed part of its longstanding foreign-policy commitment to African liberation and the dismantling of colonial and racial domination on the continent.
READ ALSO:
Obasanjo described Nigeria’s intervention as “enlightened self-interest”, arguing that the liberation of Black people anywhere in Africa was inseparable from the dignity and interests of Africans everywhere.
He recalled that Nigeria did not act alone, noting that it worked alongside African and international leaders who opposed apartheid and supported the liberation of Southern Africa.
Among those he mentioned were former United States President Jimmy Carter, former British Prime Minister James Callaghan, former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere, former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, former Mozambican President Samora Machel and former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme.
The apartheid system was eventually dismantled, leading to South Africa’s first democratic, multiracial elections in 1994 and the emergence of Nelson Mandela as the country’s first democratically elected president.
For Obasanjo, however, the historical significance of Nigeria’s contribution goes beyond conventional diplomacy. He argued that Nigeria acted out of a belief in racial equality and the common destiny of Black people, rather than as an investment from which it expected a direct return.
‘Illegality Cannot Be Used To Treat Illegality’
Against that historical background, Obasanjo expressed deep concern over recurring xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa. He condemned attacks on migrants and businesses, particularly where alleged immigration violations or criminal activities are used as justification for mob action.
According to him, even when migrants violate South African immigration laws or commit crimes, the appropriate response is enforcement by lawful authorities rather than violence by individuals or groups.
“There are criminals among the illegal migrants, but 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 questioned whether migrants were responsible for the scale of South Africa’s unemployment and economic difficulties, warning against using foreigners as an easy explanation for problems rooted in wider socioeconomic conditions.
“I believe that it’s not in the best interest of South Africa or Africa in what has happened. What is the percentage of these immigrants? Also, some of them are job creators. Three, how much of your jobs are they taking over, and if you get these people out, what will be the total outcome for South Africa?” he asked.
He also pointed out that some African migrants contribute to South Africa’s economy through businesses and other economic activities, arguing that their presence should not automatically be equated with economic harm.
ANC Under Pressure
Obasanjo suggested that the xenophobic tensions could be connected partly to growing political pressure on South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) to deliver better economic conditions for ordinary citizens.
“I was trying to find out, but people told me the ANC [Ruling party in South Africa] is having a political problem of meeting the expectations of the ordinary people. That may be true, and if that is happening, that is not the right way to go about it”, he said.
The former president argued that political leaders should address unemployment, poverty and other socioeconomic pressures directly instead of allowing frustration to be redirected towards migrants.
He said the challenge was not unique to South Africa, stressing that governments across Africa were struggling to meet the expectations of their citizens.
“It’s not only in South Africa but everywhere. The expectations of ordinary people are not being met in Nigeria, Kenya and almost all countries in Africa”, he said.
According to him, the continent’s difficulties require greater cooperation and integration rather than hostility among African countries and their citizens.
“I believe if we are talking of integration, coming up together, I believe using illegality to treat illegality is not the way out”, he concluded.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
