Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African citizens have led to the straining of relations between Nigeria and South Africa. The long-standing cordial relations between the two countries which often have had some challenges were recently tested once more by the recent xenophobic onslaught on Nigerians and other African nationals. The consequence of which led to an unfortunate diplomatic row and anger by Nigerian citizens and lawmakers, who perceived South Africa as an ingrate that was taking Nigeria for granted despite the latter’s sacrifice to rid South Africa and Namibia of apartheid and liberating Southern African countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Angola from the clutches of colonialism.
The situation was aggravated by the recall home of the Nigerian Charge d’ affairs in Pretoria and of the Consul–General from Johannesburg. The recall angered the South African government who felt that Nigeria was over-killing the issue. President Goodluck Jonathan felt embarrassed as it was disclosed that he was not consulted nor did he give approval to the recall of Nigerian envoys from South Africa by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The fall out of the whole saga was the suspension of the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry by the President and his replacement “with immediate effect”, which was rather rash and unfortunate.
Except in this current era of impunity in this country, the permanent secretary, whose traditional practices I know very well, could not have singularly and unilaterally recalled both the acting High Commissioner and the Consul–General at the same time without the express approval of his supervisors. In fact, he has three bosses – the Foreign Affairs Minister and two (2) other Ministers of State, the buck stops at the table of the Foreign Minister, who should take full responsibility. Passing the buck to the permanent secretary is not the traditional practice in a civilised society. The permanent secretary, like most civil servants, is an obedient servant, who is usually “directed” by superior authorities. His public suspension and immediate replacement is an unfortunate misjudgment of the Presidency. The foreign service has a more dignifying way of handling such issues; not by public disgrace.
Mr. President may wish to revisit the case so that justice and fair play may be dispensed and confidence of the high echelon of the civil service in good governance, accountability and rule of law may continue to be reposed.
Need for connectivity between Presidency, Foreign Affairs Ministry
Since the untimely replacement of the late Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru – a career diplomat per excellence, there appears to be a lacuna in the relations between the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For instance, the issue of denials regarding telephone discussion between President Jonathan and the King of Morocco; Nigeria’s abstention from voting in the United Nations (UN) Security Council on the Palestinian issue, an issue on which Nigeria had never compromised and had always been consistent over the years in voting in favour of the inalienable rights of the Palestinians for self–determination; and also, of course, in favour of the Israeli’s right of existence; the recent controversy over recall of the two Nigerian envoys from South Africa over the Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans, are cases in point, where the right hand does not seem to know what the left hand is doing. The Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should not be acting at cross – purposes. There should be constant and continuous coordination and collaboration between the two sides of the same coin so that they should speak always from the same page or sing the same song from the same hymn book without any contradiction. It is very shameful and disheartening to see the Presidential spokesman on the television constantly contradicting and indicting the actions or statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on issues which should be quietly and confidentially resolved.
The President is his own Foreign Affairs Minister, as much as he is his own MDA’s. However, he has to be properly advised by professionals and he has to give a listening ear so as to make consistent, unambiguous and non – embarrassing pronouncements on issues of vital interest to our nation.
Whoever the Nigerian President may be, he/ she must not act in his own personal/ self – interest at the expense of national interest; and must not fall victim of lobbies, both internal and external, but must be guided by and act in the national interest of Nigeria.
Nigeria must not be perceived to quiver on its long established and consistent policy of support for justice, human rights, peace and security anywhere in the world.
President Zuma and Xenophobia
As regards the South Africa Xenophobia, the action taken so far by their government in quelling attacks on Nigerians and others through the use of police and the army is welcome. However, confidence in the sincerity of the South African government has been eroded by the statement of its President, Dr. Zuma, who was reported to have remarked that he did not know why Africans cannot stay in their countries. Such pronouncement and attitude towards fellow Africans do not augur well for the welcome and safety of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
President Zuma cannot play the ignorance that there are many South Africans in other countries in Africa and in the rest of the world. He should not forget the sacrifice made by Nigeria and other African countries in liberating South Africa from the clutches of apartheid and colonialism in Southern Africa in general. He must not forget that his fellow citizens, especially of the ANC, were given safe haven in Nigeria to live in peace and tranquility and were educated free of charge in Nigerian universities during the era of struggle to eradicate apartheid in his country without which he would not be President of South Africa today.
He must not pretend to be ignorant of the multimillion dollar investments of Nigerians in South Africa which provide jobs, income for his people and revenue from taxes to his government.
He must not brush aside, the investment opportunities which Nigeria has given to South African entrepreneurs in Nigeria particularly MTN, DSTV, SHOPRITE, to mention but a few.
Xenophobic actions against Nigerians or other Africans in South Africa should, therefore, be condemned unequivocally by President Zuma and his likes. He should take more aggressive action to sensitize his people via the radio, television and other social media to welcome and love Nigerians and other Africans in their midst so as to create harmonious relationship for peaceful co existence.
Nigerians are no burden on South Africa; most of them are assets rather than liabilities to South Africa. South African government, the political parties, NGOs, religious institutions e. t. c., should give credible assurance about safety of Nigerians and other African citizens who are legitimately living and doing business in South Africa, in the same way, Nigeria gives security to all. The xenophobic action against Nigerians and other Africans should not be allowed to drag the cordial relations between Nigeria and South Africa into the mud.
Towards a lasting solution
There is an urgent need for constructive and sagacious diplomacy, showing best judgment, cordial and mutual understanding and respect for each other and their citizenry.
The action taken by South Africa of deploying its police and military to quell the attacks on Nigerians and other Africans is an appropriate one. However, President Zuma should be made to retract his statement that Africans should stay in their countries, so that confidence and trust in him and his government can be reposed by Nigeria and other African countries. He should sensitize his people to welcome their fellow Africans.
The South African government should take full responsibility in its failure to invest in human capital development of its teaming youths and failure in creating employment opportunities for them. This is an area that President Zuma should focus his attention very urgently and very seriously rather than his blame game against other non- South African blacks who live in South Africa.
Nigeria should send back its envoys, if it has not done so, to continue monitoring the situation and ensuring that the South African government do the needful to protect our citizens and allow them to go about their legitimate business. Our envoys should persist in advising Nigerians in South Africa to be law abiding and should show the spirit of brotherhood to fellow South Africans.
The Foreign Ministers of both countries should urgently hold official meeting with a view to re- affirming the cordial relations existing between their countries in spite the hic- cups.
Nigeria and South Africa Bi – National Commission should hold an emergency meeting with a view to ironing out the xenophobia matter and to finding a Permanent solution to attacks on Nigerian and their properties. This requires subtle civilized and constructive deliberations.
Nigeria should demand appropriate compensation from South Africa for damages done to Nigerians and their properties during attacks of 2008, 2011 and 2015.
During the Technical Aid Corps (TAC)/ Seminar in 2008 held in Makurdi, Benue State, for newly recruited TAC members, in my paper presented at the seminar when the first xenophobia attacks on Nigerians took place, I recommended as follows:
“Nigeria should demand from African countries which it has assisted to attain independence, particularly Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe; to eliminate apartheid, in South Africa and Namibia; and from those other countries for whom Nigeria has sacrificed its gallant men and women in peace – keeping, that Nigeria’s invaluable sacrifice and assistance, to those countries should be taught in schools, colleges and universities; and should be inscribed in their history books, and other records. By so doing, current and future generations in those countries would appreciate the leadership roles which Nigeria played during their liberation struggles. If this demand had been made in the past and it was duly met, the attacks on Nigerians currently going on in South Africa might have been averted”.
What I advocated in 2008 is still relevant today and I hope the Nigerian authorities will consider the matter very seriously and get it accepted by the countries concerned as promptly as possible, through the mechanism of constructive and sagacious diplomatic engagement.
Nigerian and South African governments should promote the formation of Nigeria/South Africa Friendship Association which will include the older and younger generations who would appreciate the assistance rendered by Nigeria in the past and reciprocal assistance that will continue to exist between the two countries and their people for the mutual benefits of both nations.
Cultural exchanges, especially, exchange of students, teachers, professors, sports, professionals, particularly in the medical fields, cultural troupes, tourism and learning of each other’s languages should occupy a major agenda in the Bi–National Commission between both countries.
Both the Friendship Association and the cultural exchanges, will usher in closer appreciation of each other’s tradition and customs and create affinity between the people of both nations. If formal collaboration between the organized business sectors of both countries does not exist at the moment, the governments of Nigeria and South Africa should encourage and promote the formation of Nigeria/South Africa Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture so as to promote greater trade and investments between both countries.
Nigeria should commence negotiations with countries in Southern Africa, particularly South Africa with a view to erecting memorial statues for Nigeria in those countries as permanent reminders of Nigeria’s contributions to the liberation of their countries from colonialism and apartheid. Such memorial statues will be perpetual historic monuments in those countries in honour of Nigeria for appreciation by their citizens and generations yet unborn.
Nigeria assisted South Africa from the clutches of apartheid in the past, it is time for Nigeria to assist in eliminating xenophobia from that country so as to win their hearts and minds for mutual co- existence among the South Africans and the rest of the black communities living in their midst.
The Nigerian government should therefore allocate special funds to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to constitute a committee to organise seminars, conferences and workshops on the diplomatic history of Nigeria’s assistance to African countries and the Diaspora, which would be published and forwarded to Nigerian Missions abroad for onward dissemination to host authorities, their institutions and citizenry. We have to get the world to know how benevolent and selfless we have been to fellow African countries, particularly, in Southern Africa for which Nigerians had to forgo their meals, comfort, a good part of their salaries and incomes, their sweat and blood for the freedom of the people of Sothern Africa. Thus, the xenophobic actions against Nigerians particularly and other Africans in South Africa is uncalled for and totally objectionable; it cannot be tolerated and should never be allowed to happen again. The fraternal and cordial relations which have been built over the years between Nigeria and South Africa should not be allowed to falter or be dragged into the mud by spoilers and the ill–informed. Nigeria and South Africa should, therefore, wake up to their responsibilities and make Africa and the black race proud!
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