Fani-Kayode Defends Nigeria’s Anti-Apartheid Legacy, Rejects ‘Drug Dealer’ Stereotype
…Says Nigeria sacrificed billions, troops and diplomacy to secure South Africa’s freedom
Former Minister of Aviation and Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has defended Nigeria’s historic role in the anti-apartheid struggle, saying the country’s immense sacrifices for South Africa’s liberation make recent attempts to stereotype Nigerians as criminals both unjustified and unacceptable.
In the third instalment of his opinion series titled “A Bond That Must Never Be Broken,” Fani-Kayode responded to recent remarks by South African Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, arguing that Nigeria’s contributions to South Africa’s emancipation remain among the most significant in Africa’s history.
According to him, Nigeria stood at the forefront of the continental struggle against apartheid through diplomatic, financial and military support, driven by the ideals of Pan-Africanism and solidarity.
The former minister recalled that Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, declared the country a frontline state in the fight against apartheid and strongly opposed Western support for South Africa’s white minority regime.
He cited Mohammed’s famous 1975 address to African leaders in Addis Ababa, titled “Africa Has Come of Age,” in which the late military leader rejected attempts by foreign powers to dictate Africa’s response to apartheid and urged the continent to determine its own destiny.
Fani-Kayode also highlighted the role of General Olusegun Obasanjo, who succeeded Murtala Mohammed, saying his administration intensified Nigeria’s support for South Africa’s liberation by adopting tough diplomatic measures against countries and institutions backing apartheid.
According to him, Nigeria played a leading role in international campaigns that led to South Africa’s isolation from the Commonwealth and major global sporting competitions while serving as a key advocate against apartheid at the United Nations.
He further claimed that Nigeria provided extensive financial and logistical assistance to the African National Congress (ANC) and its armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, while also offering refuge to prominent anti-apartheid leaders, including former Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki during their years in exile.
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Fani-Kayode said Nigerian universities admitted South African students free of charge during the apartheid era, while the Federal Government introduced the famous “Mandela Tax,” through which civil servants contributed part of their salaries to support South Africa’s liberation struggle.
He also recalled that Nigerian schoolchildren donated their lunch allowances to raise funds for the anti-apartheid campaign, while the country reportedly committed billions of dollars over several decades to support the liberation movement.
The former minister maintained that Nigeria also paid a significant economic price by restricting oil exports to countries supporting the apartheid regime, describing the decision as evidence of the country’s commitment to African solidarity.
Turning to present-day relations, Fani-Kayode argued that Nigeria continues to make significant contributions to South Africa’s economy through trade and energy supplies while providing a major market for South African businesses operating across the continent.
He stressed that despite Nigeria’s own developmental challenges, the country remains one of Africa’s leading economies with strong indigenous ownership in banking, aviation, manufacturing and other strategic sectors.
The former minister also highlighted what he described as Nigeria’s long history of educational excellence, listing several Nigerians and people of Nigerian descent who pioneered higher education and professional achievements in Africa and abroad.
According to him, Nigeria produced some of Africa’s earliest university graduates, lawyers, medical doctors and bishops, while continuing to excel globally through its professionals and academics.
He further cited the achievements of Nigerian scholars in leading international institutions, saying the country’s educational and cultural heritage remains among the strongest on the continent.
Fani-Kayode said the historical record demonstrates that Nigeria is a nation built on resilience, enterprise and sacrifice rather than the negative stereotypes recently promoted by some South African public officials.
He argued that while criminality exists in every society, it is wrong to generalise all Nigerians as drug dealers or criminals because of the actions of a few individuals.
The former minister urged both countries to preserve their longstanding relationship, insisting that mutual respect and appreciation of shared history remain essential to strengthening ties between Africa’s two largest economies.
He concluded that Nigeria’s sacrifices during South Africa’s liberation struggle should continue to serve as a reminder of the enduring bond between the two nations and the need to deepen cooperation rather than allow stereotypes and tensions to undermine decades of solidarity.
By PRNigeria
