“Without Nigeria, South Africa Wouldn’t Have Defeated Apartheid!” — Obasanjo Recalls Historic Interventions, Slams Modern Xenophobic Attacks

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that South Africa’s historic victory over white minority rule would not have materialized when it did without Nigeria’s decisive and sustained backing during the liberation struggle.

Obasanjo made the assertion during a televised interview on C-Suite Cafe, reflecting on Nigeria’s foundational foreign policy stance and financial and diplomatic commitments toward dismantling apartheid. The former military head of state (1976–1979) and civilian president (1999–2007) noted that Nigeria’s heavy sacrifices were never driven by expectations of economic compensation or political leverage, but rather by an unyielding commitment to racial equality and human dignity across the African continent.

“We were not doing what we did in South Africa or in Southern Africa or decolonisation anywhere for our personal gain or for our country. We did it for our race,” Obasanjo stated. “I believe that no black man anywhere or black person anywhere should be regarded as an inferior human being because of his colour.”

Recalling the extensive diplomatic network that powered the campaign, Obasanjo noted that Nigeria collaborated closely with iconic regional leaders, including Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere, Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda, and Mozambique’s Samora Machel, alongside strategic international partners like former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, British Prime Minister James Callaghan, and Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. Insisting that the country’s monumental efforts altered the trajectory of Southern Africa, he maintained: “Without Nigeria, South Africa would not have got rid of apartheid when it got rid of it.”

However, the elder statesman transitioned from historical reflections to express deep concern over contemporary relations, fiercely condemning the recurring wave of xenophobic violence and attacks directed at African migrants—including Nigerians—living in South Africa.

While acknowledging that immigration irregularities or legal infractions should be managed by relevant authorities, Obasanjo rejected the use of mob justice, vigilantism, and looting against foreign-owned properties.

“I do not believe that you use illegality to treat illegality, asking and encouraging area boys and area girls to break into their houses and break into their shops,” he remarked. He further pushed back against the narrative that foreign nationals are solely responsible for domestic unemployment, noting that numerous migrants actively contribute to the economic fabric and enterprise ecosystem of their host countries.

Obasanjo’s remarks add a sharp historical and diplomatic dimension to ongoing discussions surrounding regional solidarity, coming in the wake of heightened bilateral tensions over the safety and welfare of Nigerian citizens residing in South Africa.