So when decades later the progenies and offsprings of those who lived through the horrors of apartheid and were beneficiaries of Nigeria’s considerable contribution to ending the deviously unconscionable and abhorrent socio-political and economic system start a vicious and barbaric campaign of xenophobia against fellow Africans, particularly Nigerians, many were not only disgusted but terrified and wondered what could have triggered such a callous persecution and victimisation of fellow Africans by the very people who not so long ago were victims of subjugation, repression and dehumanisation in the hands of ruthless white colonial settlers.
After Nigeria gained independence in 1960, it made the decolonisation of Africa an essential and consequential project that had to be completed to a logical conclusion, to the extent that it codified its anti-colonial stance into its foreign policy. Nigeria did not merely condemn colonialism in Africa through poignant speeches and beautifully worded press statements, but through actions, with the massive deployment of its resources, economic heft, military might, and enviable diplomatic standing in the world at the time.
The uncompromising anti-imperialist position of Nigeria in the first three decades that followed its independence often put the nation on a collision course with Western powers, who were ostensibly threatened by Nigeria’s Pan-Africanism and aggressive Afrocentric foreign policy. In 1962, Nigeria severed ties with France over the testing of the atomic bomb in the Sahara Desert. Nigeria committed resources and used its imposing and irrepressible global standing to not only support anti-colonial struggle in countries like Angola, Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa but also push for the political and economic independence of these countries.
In his fiery and passionate speech at the extraordinary meeting of the OAU in 1976, Nigeria’s former head of state, late General Murtala Mohammad, railed against the interference of superpowers, particularly the United States, in the affairs of African nations. He flayed the United States for working against the self-determination of Angola. This speech was a response to a letter from President Gerald Ford opposing the Soviet backed M.P.L.A. which had taken power in Angola. The South Africans were fighting with the opposition factions to M.P.LA. General Murtala objected to Ford siding with the South Africans, and against African self-determination.
Concluding part of speech reads “Mr Chairman, when I contemplate the evils of apartheid, my heart bleeds and I am sure the heart of every true-blooded African bleeds. . . Rather than join hands with the forces fighting for self-determination and against racism and apartheid, the United States policy makers clearly decided that it was in the best interests of their country to maintain white supremacy and minority regimes in Africa”
South Africa is one of the countries that benefited immensely from Nigeria’s Afrocentric policy and the West African benevolence, determination and desire to make it work. Aside from strongly condemning the evils and iniquities of apartheid that beset the country for most of its existence, it expended resources on the anti-apartheid struggle and fight for independence. At the height of the apartheid rule in South Africa, Nigeria became a haven and refuge for the leading and prominent figures in the anti apartheid struggle who had to flee the repressive and brutal white minority apartheid regime.
So when decades later the progenies and offsprings of those who lived through the horrors of apartheid and were beneficiaries of Nigeria’s considerable contribution to ending the deviously unconscionable and abhorrent socio-political and economic system start a vicious and barbaric campaign of xenophobia against fellow Africans, particularly Nigerians, many were not only disgusted but terrified and wondered what could have triggered such a callous persecution and victimisation of fellow Africans by the very people who not so long ago were victims of ruthless subjugation, repression and dehumanisation in the hands of white colonial settlers. Even if those behind this virulent propaganda of other Africans being the source of the socio-economic mess South Africa is facing and the vicious xenophobic attack such drivel has engendered don’t have a sense of history at least they should not be bereft of empathy, respect and reason.
Even before black majority rule and independence in South Africa, xenophobia, though not as intense, pronounced and widespread as it is today, has always been a thing in South Africa as locals compete with foreigners for scarce resources. Between 2008 and 2022, there was no year when the country did not record xenophobic attacks as locals vented their anger, frustration and dissatisfaction over the state of their country by unleashing terror and violence on foreigners. Nigerians have often been caught in these waves of systemic violence against foreigners.
In the latest wave of xenophobic uprising, Nigerians have been specifically targeted in an orgy of violence and their businesses destroyed for what many disenchanted South Africans who are behind these attacks and violence described as usurpation of their means of livelihoods. On Monday, a serving member of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, stated that the Nigerian government must be decisive and ruthless in responding to the recent spate of attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
The former governor of Edo State, suggested that Nigeria should nationalise South African companies operating in Nigeria. According to him, nationalising companies like MTN will send a strong message to the South African government, forcing them to act quickly in stemming the tide of xenophobia that has become part of the country’s national features. But the question is, is nationalising multinational companies because some misguided characters in the country where these companies are from acted cowardly and recklessly a rational, sound and logical course of action?
The grievance, discontent and revulsion of Oshiomhole over the perennial xenophobic attack in South Africa is not unreasonable and also quite understandable but we cannot afford to let selective nationalistic and patriotic fervour cloud our sense of reason and sound judgement. Nationalising key private South African companies operating in Nigeria will amount to cutting our noses to spite our faces. The mere suggestion of it alone is profoundly disconcerting and objectively irrational. Aside from the fact that such a move, if at all the Nigerian government mulls it, will be counterproductive, it may push Nigeria into the abyss of a pariah state among the committee of nations.
At the risk of sounding insensitive or downplaying the cruel and abominable actions of those indulging in these xenophobic attacks, nationalisation of foreign companies will only worsen Nigeria’s precarious economic situation as foreign companies will be forced to ditch the country. It can also lead to a tit-for-tat destructive economic sanction with South African authorities which will have a brutal and devastating impact on both countries. Brawn and needless confrontation should not be the option where reason, diplomacy and rapprochement can get the job done. There are other ways to get the South African government to rein in the excesses of its people and protect other nationals in the country but going after the businesses of its citizens is not one of them.
