Obasanjo condemns xenophobia in South Africa, recalls Nigeria’s anti-apartheid role

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned the xenophobic attacks on African migrants in South Africa, emphasizing that illegal migration should be addressed through legal means rather than violence or property destruction. During an interview on C-Suite Café, he also highlighted Nigeria's crucial role in supporting the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa through financial and diplomatic aid.

Obasanjo explained that Nigeria's involvement was driven by principles of equality and opposition to racial discrimination, rather than any expectation of reward. He stressed that no black person should be treated as inferior due to their race. The former president further argued that Nigeria's leadership and interventions were instrumental in the eventual dismantling of apartheid in South Africa.

He recalled collaborating with notable international and African leaders, including Andrew Young, James Callaghan, Samora Machel, and Kenneth Kaunda.

Addressing the issue of undocumented migrants in South Africa, Obasanjo cautioned against responding to illegal migration with further violations. He stressed that authorities and citizens should not use "illegality to treat illegality." Furthermore, he questioned the assumptions linking migrants to criminal activity and inquired about the proportion of foreign nationals involved in crime versus those contributing to the economy through job creation.

Obasanjo linked the resentment towards migrants to larger governance and economic challenges, suggesting that political pressure on African governments could fuel anti-immigrant sentiment when citizens' economic expectations were not met. He emphasized that violence against migrants contradicts efforts to promote African integration and economic cooperation.

These remarks come amid ongoing debates over the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa, where tensions have arisen due to concerns over undocumented migration, unemployment, crime, and competition for economic opportunities. Recent research has even suggested that migrants can contribute to job creation and economic activity in the region.