Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has urged the South African government and public to replace xenophobic sentiments with Pan-Africanism, following a series of attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals in the country. Speaking at the inaugural Nigerian Fair held at the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg on Saturday, Fani-Kayode called for a renewed sense of solidarity between the two nations.
The High Commissioner emphasized that the struggle against apartheid in South Africa was a collective African effort rather than solely a domestic movement. “It wasn’t a black South African struggle. It was a struggle that every nation in Africa led primarily by the frontline states and Nigeria, and every decent civilized nation in the world supported,” he stated. He urged South Africans to remember the significant sacrifices made by Nigeria and other African countries to secure the nation’s liberation.
Fani-Kayode cited specific contributions to the anti-apartheid campaign, claiming that Nigeria invested no less than $61 billion between 1960 and 1994. He noted that this support included the deployment of troops to frontline states and the implementation of the “Mandela Tax,” a levy imposed on Nigerian civil servants to fund the African National Congress (ANC). Additionally, he highlighted that Nigerian schoolchildren contributed their lunch money to the cause, while the country consistently advocated for South Africa’s freedom at the United Nations and other international forums.
“We must understand that the world is coming together as one, and we must stand together as one,” Fani-Kayode said.
Describing xenophobic violence as a “retrogressive sentiment” driven by a minority suffering from Afrophobia, the High Commissioner called for stronger diplomatic and economic ties built on friendship and mutual respect. He clarified that despite growing frustration within Nigerian political circles, the Federal Government would not sever economic ties with South Africa. Instead, he assured Nigerians residing in the country that the government would continue to take steps to protect their interests and ensure their welfare.
Fani-Kayode concluded by urging both nations to avoid actions that could further strain their relationship, stressing that Nigeria and the rest of Africa have a vested interest in South Africa’s development due to their historical contributions to its freedom.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
