Special Report:
Xenophobia Rocks Nigeria-S/African Relations

Another wave of attacks related to hatred for foreigners almost brought Nigeria’s relations with South Africa to its lowest ebb


It has become a sad feature of post-apartheid South Africa especially among its Black population. Xenophobia, hatred for foreigners has been strong among South African Blacks against Black Africans from neigbouring countries and those from Nigeria in the past as a result of accusation of job and other deprivations, and criminality among others. As a result, the South Africans have found their fellow Africans, especially Nigerians scapegoats for unleashing of violence and mayhem.

It took uglier dimension early September, to the extent that it nearly led to the break in diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa, the two nations which boast of the continent’s largest economies. Diplomatic relations between the two nations deteriorated in the latest round of crises that a Nigerian philanthropist and proprietor of Peace Air, Allen Onyeama, made his plane available for the evacuation of more than 500 Nigerians trapped in the former racist enclave with his aircraft, free of charge.

It will be noted that the first protest against xenophobia dated back to 2015 following attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, but that was not the first time Nigerians have been victims of violence in the former racist territory. Between 2016 and 2018 alone, more than 118 Nigerians were reportedly murdered in dastardly manner as a result of xenophobia related attacks with businesses and properties belonging to foreigners mostly Nigerians destroyed. It started all over again this year 2019 on February 3, when a Nigerian in his 20s was murdered by South African Police. Since then, Nigeria has continued to experience different forms of xenophobic attacks in the country, especially from among the Black South Africans. Many Nigerians expressed outrage when the latest reports of wave of attacks were unleashed on their citizens living in the country hit the nation’s airwaves and social media Reports had dominated the nation’s traditional and social media in the early week of September, even beginning from September 1 of the attacks on Nigerians and other Africans. Nigerians were outraged the more when the government in Pretoria did not appear to do anything to protect the helpless Nigerians who were being hounded and attacked by their citizens. As the attacks even continued, reports had it that the rampaging mob spread across the country, sang familiar tunes, while blaming foreign nationals for their social and economic woes.

Angry Nigerian youths, on the other hand, attacked business like MTN, Shoprite and others that are South African related, causing damages, but for the intervention of Nigeria’s police, the situation would have been worse. Among prominent Nigerians who condemned that xenophobic attack on Nigerians was former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo condemned in strong terms attacks by South African youths on Nigerians and other African nationals in their country, blaming it all on the insincerity of the government of that country. He made his position known in Abeokuta while receiving the leadership of the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, during a courtesy call on him by the management of the institute, led by its chairman, Major General Lawrence Onoja (retd).

The former president said the development in South Africa betrayed the contribution of Nigeria to the struggle for the emancipation of the country during the apartheid era. Obasanjo who blamed the exodus of Nigerians and other African nationals on the search for the elusive and non-existing greener pasture, however, called on African heads of governments to ensure good governance for the overall development of the continent and its teeming population. He blamed South African youths for their immaturity, while hitting their leaders more for allowing fellow Africans to rise against themselves.

He said, “Youths can be so immature, they may not understand what Africa stands for and what our continental organisations stand for. But if the youths do not understand what happened, what happened to the leadership?” He continued: “I will blame the youths of the country for the attacks but I will blame the leaders more in any country that allows xenophobic attacks against fellow Africans for whatever reason. “Having said that, it is also the responsibility of everyone of us in our different countries to prepare our countries, so that those our youths that think that there is an Eldorado somewhere outside their countries will be made to know that there is no green pasture anywhere.

“The green pasture is here in your country. I feel disheartened to know that many of our youths perished while crossing the Sahara desert or the Mediterranean.” The federal government on its part did not take matters lying low. The Nigerian government has been outspoken in its condemnation of the violence. At the height of the crisis it withdrew a delegation from a major international conference taking place in South Africa.

Tensions were inflamed after videos and images were shared on social media purporting to show Nigerians being attacked and killed. The Nigerian government said there was no evidence that this had taken place. But it did say that Nigerian-owned businesses had been targeted. Considering its massive investment in Nigeria, in a move to save their long-standing relations, the South African government took a measure to save the situation. It sent a special envoy Jeff Radebe to Abuja by middle of September to meet President Buhari to express the country’s “sincerest apologies”. “The incident does not represent what we stand for,” he said, adding that South African police would “leave no stone unturned” in bringing those involved to justice. Mr Radebe also told President Buhari that the South African government condemned the violence and was taking decisive action.

President Buhari in his response thanked Mr Radebe for “coming to explain to us what happened in South Africa recently, leading to the killing and displacement of foreigners”. “President Buhari responded to profuse apologies from the South African president, pledging that the relationship between the two countries will be solidified,” a statement from his office further said. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa had said in an interview that he felt ashamed by the recent violence. According to President Ramaphosa,”We are very concerned and of course as a nation we are ashamed because this goes against the ethos of what South Africa stands for.” Nigerians have maintained that it is inhuman and even degradation of the highest order on the part of South Africa to be oblivion of the large sacrifice and significant roles Nigeria played to bail them out of the slavery hands of colonial masters.

After more than 100 years that South Africa had been languishing in the apartheid regime, Nigeria came up in the spirit of brotherliness to render financial assistance and all other possible supports to enable freedom for South Africans. In 1960, after Nigeria got her independence, it was discovered that black people were being massacred in Sharpeville, South Africa, by the white apartheid police. Swift response of Nigeria leaders to the Sharpeville massacre positively changed the scenario in South Africa. Nigeria Prime Minister then, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa on 4th of April 1961 sent a letter signifying Nigeria readiness and commitment to fight against apartheid in South Africa. Nigeria, under Tafawa Balewa was the first African country to make a financial donation to African National Congress (ANC) in the early 1960s.

Nigeria, based on liberation movement in 1970s, singlehandedly contributed $5million annual subvention to the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), amount worth billions at the present rate. Sir Balewa also pushed for expulsion of South Africa from the Commonwealth in 1961. Subsequent regimes in Nigeria tolled the brotherly gesture stipulated during Balewa’s regime to get South Africa out of sufferings.

The Military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo added $3.7m to the fund earlier contributed by his counterpart, this time different from the personal donation of $3000 by General Obasanjo, with personal contribution of $1500 each from the members of his cabinet. Civil servants in Nigeria and public officers made a 2 percent donation from their monthly salary to the South Africa Fund Relief (SAFR).

Nigerian Students were not left out as they forfeited their lunch in six months in June 1977 to make donations. Financial contributions then generally totaled $10. 5million. The contribution to the SAFR then was tagged “Mandela Tax”. Nigeria also played a crucial intervention role when education system of South Africa was disrupted at that time. South Africa then protested against apartheid decision, to change their educational language to Afrikaans. 700 students were brutalized by the white police. Thus a first group of 86 South African students came to Nigeria in 1976, while several others joined to study in Nigeria for free. Many South African leaders also found their touches in Nigeria. Leaders like former South African President from 1999 to 2008, Thabo Mbeki, spent seven years in Nigeria from 1977-1984, before he left for the ANC headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia.

Apartheid regime then with its stranglehold on the enclave seized passports of more than 300 South Africans, thereby preventing them from traveling abroad. Nigeria government immediately issued over 300 passports to all of them. It is surprising and laughable now that South Africa is displaying their own coined “apartheid” on their Benefactor-Nigeria.

The xenophobic display of South Africa to Nigeria could be likened to a scenario of a parent who has laboured extensively to raise a child, the child after becoming a full blown adult rise up to fight the parent. Transparently looking at the scenario, the xenophobic gesture of this country to Nigeria is a curse on the part of South Africa as a nation. A nation where it’s people could have still been crawling for survival but the positive intervention of Nigeria during the malaise that bedeviled them in their own land.

Among the country’s sacrifice was Nigeria’s boycott of the 1976 Olympic Games as well as the Common wealth games in 1979 all in the bid of protest against apartheid in South Africa. Perpetrators of Xenophobia, in the interest of South Africa need to be sensitized on either the idea of coexistence or the right of other Africans to live harmoniously and peacefully as law abiding residents in any country of their choice. It is not enough to apologise. The South African government must prove responsible by making the perpetrators to face the wrath of law and serve as deterrents to others in order to put everlasting solution to xenophobia.

The lawmakers had invited Allen Onyema to commend him for offering free services bringing Nigerian citizens caught up in the xenophobic attacks in South Africa back home. The star, indeed the hero of the xenophobic attack is undoubtedly the Chairman of Air Peace who made his plane available free of charge to evacuate no fewer than 500 Nigerians from the Republic of South Africa. It was no surprise that the House of Representatives invited him for a special session in appreciation of his nationalistic zeal with a standing ovation. While receiving the business mogul, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, shortly after saying the opening prayers, asked that the Order Paper be temporarily suspended to allow the lawmakers to receive Onyema for recognition.

As the Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno ushered Onyema into the chamber, the lawmakers gave him a rousing welcome and standing ovation. Others approached him to embrace and shake hands with him. Gbajabiamila, while addressing the assembly commended the airline boss over the humanitarian roles he played in the wake of xenophobic attacks on foreigners, including Nigerians in South Africa. He said the act was a rare show of patriotism that ought to be celebrated.

“We hereby commend Mr Allen Onyeama and recommend him to the federal government for higher honours in Nigeria,” the Speaker said. Onyema, in response, thanked the lawmakers for the honour and said; “You have brought tears to my eyes. I have never been honoured like this. “He added that his actions were spontaneous and he would do anything to evacuate even a single Nigerian and also seized the opportunity to call for unity across the country. Speaker Gbajabiamila also went to his official twitter handle @Femigbaja to give details of his meeting with the airline boss. “I just met with Mr. Allen Onyema the CEO of Air Peace, we owe him gratitude for flying Nigerians stranded in South Africa back home at no cost, his benevolence will not be forgotten. Join me in thanking him,” Gbajabiamila tweeted.