Nigeria- South Africa F A Q s

looking at the facts here by answering some questions.


Nigerians liberated South Africa. Why are they ungrateful?
The South Africans liberated themselves. They were the ones who got shot on the streets of Soweto, murdered in detention, jailed, exiled and humiliated. Nigeria made its contribution but so did some other countries. Yes, it is normal for you to express dissatisfaction if you feel someone you helped fails to recognize or denies your efforts. But on the Mandela funeral episode, it was the prerogative of the organizers to choose who spoke and Nigerians should not make too much out of it. It appears some of the choice of speakers were made for extant practical reasons. For example, Obama because he is the first black president. Hailemariam of Ethiopia and Banda of Malawi were chosen to speak at the funeral because they are the heads of the AU and Sadc respectively. I don’t know the criterion by which some of the others were chosen but like it said it was the organisers’ prerogative. Nigeria was one of the first countries visited by Mandela on coming out of prison – that was gratitude.

Nigeria did nothing for South Africa – putting Mbeki in a guest house doesn’t amount to helping South Africa.
Nigeria probably contributed more than any other country to the fight against apartheid. Its contribution to efforts to end apartheid was mainly in four areas (1) diplomacy (2) financial contributions (3) scholarship (4) economy.
1. Diplomacy: Right from the time of Nigeria’s first leader, Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria made the matter of South Africa a major issue at diplomatic forums. Its main platforms were those presented by the UN and the Commonwealth. At Commonwealth CHOGMS, it campaigned, cajoled and threatened to pull out. This was revved up with the coming of General Murtala to power in the 70’s. Nigeria’s foreign minister General Garba made lengthy speeches at the UN, calling for sanctions and urging more actions. Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts were often countered by the likes of Kamuzu Banda of Malawi whose constant refrain was that nobody would leave the Commonwealth and destroy it. Obasanjo kept the fire burning when he assumed Nigeria’s leadership in 1976. If you have not read this letter he wrote to Thatcher, you should so do. http://omojuwa.com/2013/04/an-open-letter-to-mrs-margaret-thatcher-from-general-olusegun-obasanjo/
2. Finance: Nigeria made financial contributions to the ANC. These monies came from the Nigerian government and from donations made by the Nigerian people. Yes, the money got to the ANC. Others who made financial contributions included Muammar Ghadaffi of Libya.
3. Scholarship: Nigeria granted scholarship to many South African students to study at Nigerian universities. A good number of them were also employed as teachers and in other positions. Some other Africa countries like Ghana also did this.
4. Economy: Nigerians were encouraged to boycott anything made by companies that did business with the apartheid government.
Nigeria also granted residence and Nigerian passports to many freedom fighters who were exiled from their country and denied passports.

However, for all of Nigeria’s contribution, the country that suffered most for its efforts against apartheid was Mozambique. ANC bases in the country were often attacked by Pretoria’s commandos and its president Samora Machel, a fine gentleman, was killed in a plane crash believed to have been orchestrated by the apartheid’s government’s intelligence agents. Other African countries, including Zambia, Angola and Tanzania also made useful contributions although some of them were a bit of late comers having not gained independence until the late 70’s and 80’s. Uganda also played a role, especially under Museveni.

Why should Nigerians assist African countries in difficulties? For example, South Africa.
If you are in the sitting room and you hear sounds of someone being murdered in the bedroom, what would you do? You would spontaneously stand up and rush to the scene to try to help. Apartheid was a horrendous episode of evil. It was an affront to all right thinking people. It was an insult and a slap on the face of every non-white person alive since it was the ultimate case of institutionalization of white supremacy. We had a responsibility to do something. Everyone did. It is very likely that Freetown would have been razed to the ground during the RUF invasion of 1999 were it not for the efforts of Brigadier (then colonel) Maxwell Kobe. Were it not for Nigeria the RUF would have taken over Sierra Leone completely and turned it into a state of nature. We saved tens of thousands of lives, possibly hundreds of thousands – that is the satisfaction we get.

Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa and has immense resources, including one of the continent's largest armed forces. We should be involved in the CAR at the moment to prevent the situation degenerating completely, as that will cost us more. Ditto for South Sudan. Involvement does not always involve putting boots on the ground. Our diplomats should be more involved.

Why do Nigerians respect Mandela so much? He did nothing for us. He helped free his country, so what?
See the above response. Apartheid was our problem – all of us. People like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King deserve the global respect they get. And we should start giving the same regard to other heroes and liberators – Samora Machel, Kenneth Kaunda, Julius Nyerere, Franz Fanon, Amilcal Cabral, Augustinho Neto, Sam Nujoma, John Garang, Albert Lutuli, Steve Biko, Walter Sisulu, Winnie Mandela and others - instead of going on about Mohandas Gandhi and Winston Churchill. Mandela may have been the face of South Africa’s struggle but he did not work alone. There were many others.

Why do Nigerians feel superior to other Africans?
The myth of the super black has been around for quite some time. It is found mainly among Nigerians, South Africans and African-Americans. African-Americans feel they are the super blacks just because they live in the great USA and not Africa which is worse than death itself. One of them even said he was happy his forebears jumped on a slave ship. South Africans feel they are the super blacks because they live on the European patch of the continent. Nigerians feel they are the super blacks because – well, because they are from Nigeria, the “giant of Africa” (who invented this terrible phrase, for Christsakes?). The myth of the super black man is foolish.

Why do South Africans hate Nigerians?
South Africans don’t hate Nigerians. There are many Nigerian businesses in RSA and no one has ever tried to organize a boycott of them or impose special taxes on them. There are Nigerian professionals and no one has tried to stop South Africans hiring them. Many Nigerian men are happily married to South African women.

What exists is a considerable amount of suspicion of Nigerians – and, yes, this sometimes manifests as hatred. But the suspicion is understandable – even Nigerians are suspicious of Nigerians and you usually have to prove yourself first before you are trusted. At the end of apartheid, many Nigerians went to the country. Unfortunately, there were a good number of them with criminal intentions.

Why are South Africans xenophobic?
Anti-immigrant sentiments are fairly common reaction in countries that get a large influx of economic migrants. Britain is retching things up. Every European country now has its anti-immigrant party doing well at elections. Japan doesn’t take in up to a couple of hundred a year. The people often feel that foreigners are taking their jobs. This is often not entirely true but it’s the common belief. Under the same circumstances, many Nigerians would react the same way. Remember Ghana must go?

Why are so many foreigners perpetrating crime in South Africa?
Most of the crime in South Africa is perpetrated by South African nationals. Unfortunately, apartheid nurtured a culture of violence. Add that to a large number of people who did benefit from formal education and you have the present situation.

Why is not Nigeria not respected?
Nigeria is disrespected because of its failed leadership and reputation for corruption, decay and crime. The present state of Nigeria is not only a shame to thinking Nigerians, but all thinking people of black skin. Anything South Africa achieves will always be seen as the achievement of white people. The only way black people are going to be respected globally is when Nigeria gets it right. But our leaders put their interest before that of the people and siphon money to foreign accounts while poverty spreads. Intelligent and capable Nigerians have to either leave the country or grovel before idiots to get crumbs or eke out what they can out of stone. This is what gives Africans the right to be mad at Nigeria. Unfortunately, this is often expressed emotionally – as you can see in the other thread - rather than constructively.

In the 90’s Nigeria stuck out its neck for Liberia. It lost many soldiers. At a point, Nigeria’s foreign minister Tom Ikimis’ aircraft was landing, frequently too, at Monrovia airport with the aid of a torchlight in his bid to bring peace to that country. Some would expect that Liberian streets would today be named after people like Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, Tomi Ikimi, John Iniengar, Victor Malu and others. Not so. They don’t even mention their names. When it comes to expressing gratitude Madam Johnson-Sirleaf would rather thank the United States for bringing peace to her country. What the United States did? My memory fails me.

South African companies contribute nothing to Nigeria’s economy and milk people of their money
South African companies contribute a lot to Nigeria’s economy. Businesses exist to make money. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that in doing so, rights are respected. The South African companies in Nigeria operate within the law. If the laws are inadequate or not enforced that is the fault of the government. Imagine what would have happened in 2001 if MTN had not come in. There were no Nigerian companies ready at the time and having only Econet would have caused us a nightmare. There are Nigerian companies in South Africa too (President Mbeki encouraged Nigerian businesses to come in a lot) and they operate within the law, making their contributions to the socioeconomic development of the country.

Where is Nigeria headed?
In the absence of good leadership, anything can happen, but it’s most likely to continue tottering as it is. If a good leader comes, the country still has enough materials and people to make it one of the world’s top ten.

Where is South Africa headed?
The ANC has Nigeria to learn from but it seems it has not done this yet. Although corruption is a major problem in the country, it has not got anywhere near Nigerian proportions yet. They don’t yet have government officials conniving with thieves to loot their mines on a large scale or evidence being presented against a minister for buying two cars for N255m and the president winks at her to carry on. Their former police chief is serving a long jail term for taking a mere $200,000 in bribes. Our own police chief got a slap on the wrist for billions of naira. Their institutions still function – recently a government person investigated Zuma’s house. That doesn’t happen in Nigeria. But with the way things are going, the signs are ominous – they already axed the Scorpions (their EFCC). If the ANC does not move to talk tough on corruption and reign it in, it’s mene mene tekel upharsin and the country could end up like Nigeria.