Obasanjo: Nigeria Crucial to Ending South Africa's Apartheid

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, asserted that South Africa would not have successfully ended apartheid without Nigeria's substantial support during the anti-apartheid struggle. Speaking in an interview on C-Suite Cafe, hosted by Ikem Okuhu, Obasanjo reflected on Nigeria's role, emphasizing that it was motivated by a belief in racial equality rather than any expectation of political or financial gain.

He described Nigeria's involvement as an act of "enlightened self-interest," stating, "without Nigeria, South Africa would not have got rid of apartheid when it got rid of it." Obasanjo also condemned recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, which have led the Nigerian National Assembly to suspend official visits to South Africa and boycott legislative activities hosted by the country. He rejected the justification of violence against migrants based on illegal immigration or crime, arguing that many foreigners contribute positively to the economy by creating jobs.