Beyond That Apology …Nigeria Must Earn S’Africa’s Respect

The looming clouds, of not just a probable, but possible diplomatic show-down between Nigeria and South Africa, two countries that now pride themselves as ‘giants of Africa’, saw a glimmer of light, Thursday, last week. The Abuja government received and hurriedly accepted an ‘unreserved’ apology from Pretoria for deporting 125 Nigerians, who, according to South African Immigration sources had carried fake Yellow Fever Free Certification Cards into the once apartheid enclave.

Nigeria, for once, felt insulted and so vexed, deported 56 South Africans after turning back 28 others, for not carrying relevant travel documents, in apparent reprisal. And to further demonstrate her seriousness, that not again will she look the other way and sit idly by, while countries treated her citizens like orphaned lepers, Nigeria threatened to open large scale probe into the unwholesome activities of some South African companies operating in the country.

Such South African firms, according to Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru were in the habit of flouting expatriate quota rules and had, for years, been fleeing foreign currency allocations on quacks, a compliant never heard of prior to the deportation saga.

However, South Africa’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ibrahim was quoted by AFP as telling newsmen in Pretoria, ‘We apologized for this unfortunate incident and we hope that this matter will not in any way affect our bilateral relations’. The Pretoria government also sent a letter of apology, thus fore-stalling what the Abuja government had threatened, would be a new diplomatic relation, grounded in tit-for-tat.

Although it’s not clear which of the two ‘giants of Africa’ would hurt the more in the event of face-off in such areas as manpower development, health services provision, creative investment, communication, entertainment, infrastructural development, power supply and global respect, South Africa has apologized apparently to protect her country’s investments in the Nigerian economy and not lose Nigerians’ there.

It is however unfortunate that Nigerian authorities failed to observe the negative rivalry and posturing of South Africa until the deportation saga. In fact, Pretoria has for sometime now, demonstrated in both words and deeds that the time Nigeria prided herself as giant of Africa should be gone for good and that there’s indeed a new kid on the block.

For instance, at the peak of the Libyan crisis, when it was clear that unless slain Libyan strongman, Muammar Ghadaffi laid-down his arms, there would be more bloodshed; and to reduce such huge human casualties, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan had along with those of the USA, France, UK and the international community, voiced the call for Ghadaffi’s surrender.

In what seemed the boldest affront yet, the South African government berated President Jonathan as being un-African and implied that Nigeria was playing a Western stooge. That mindset was replicated in the gang  up against President Jonathan’s attempt to lead the African Union (AU) in the elections last year.

Since then, the South African government has never hidden its resolve to remind Nigeria, at the slightest provocation, that there is no longer a single tree, too big and high in the African forest, that cannot be challenged.

Such clash of egos, rivalry, suspicion and diplomatic recklessness between Nigeria, a major benefactor of South Africa during that country’s travails under the heavy boots of white minority rule, would have been unthinkable. But that’s the harsh reality that has coloured relations between both countries.

Priding herself as ‘Giant of Africa,’ Nigeria committed huge human and economic resources towards liberating South Africa from the apartheid regime. Through regular funding of the African National Congress (ANC), and posturing a strong global lobby, Nigeria led the continent to actualize independence for the country, and also contributed immensely towards erecting lasting democratic and constitutional institutions that today make South Africa a tourist and business destination for many privileged Nigerians.

Today, many well-placed Nigerians, particularly politicians in and out of government own properties in South Africa while, the Nigerian elite, rather than help revive their country’s once enviable public school system now choose to send their children to schools in South Africa and Ghana.

In the area of heathcare, Nigerians now consider specialist hospitals in South Africa as apt for medical tourism, and referral destination and that way, spend unimaginable resources in the development of that country’s health institutions, through their huge patronages. What of tourism, communication and entertainment? The list is endless.

Truth is, with all the crime and violence daily reported in South Africa, wealthy Nigerians still prefer investing in South Africa than do so in their fatherland, apparently because of the inability of successive Nigerian governments to get it right in maintaining and developing necessary infrastructure required for investments in manufacturing and construction.

More than 51 years after, Nigeria is still battling to provide her citizens uninterrupted power supply, potable drinking water, world-class referral centres for critical ailments requiring expert medical attention, while a section of the country is still playing politics with the danger which terrorism now poses to what is left of our civilization.

With a population of more than 150 million citizens, vast arable land, abundant mineral resources and trained manpower that can compete among the best in the world, Nigerians prefer other countries not theirs, Nigerians remain very poor, so poor it is said that  more than 70 per cent of the population live on less than one dollar per day. How can such a country earn the respect of other nation-states.

Conversely, South Africa has indeed done a lot for herself in areas of public administration, fight against corruption, political stability, tourism development, infrastructural development, communication, sports, education, health and resource management.

These are why South Africa can toy with Nigeria’s national pride by humiliating her nationals at will. Otherwise, what is about yellow card? Why do Nigerians require Yellow Fever Free Certification Cards to enter South Africa?

Interestingly, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the world most authoritative health monitoring global body has since certified Nigeria as yellow fever free. In fact, the last case of yellow fever in the country was recorded 13 years ago, and has remained free ever after.

But in furtherance of its agenda to prove that Nigeria can no longer pride herself as ‘giant of Africa’ that Nigerians need South Africa more than her citizens do Nigeria and lastly that present day economic realities favour South Africa, the Pretoria government relied on the flimsy excuse of fake yellow cards, to deport a staggering 125 Nigerians.

Unfortunately, even sworn-enemy nations would think twice before embarking on such diplomatic voyage of high provocation. But for a nation with whom Nigeria supposedly enjoys warm diplomatic relations, it is the height of insensitivity.

‘Gratitude’, according to a popular African proverb, “is the least of virtues, and ingratitude, the worst of vices”. This is why the South African display of not just ingratitude but diplomatic recklessness must be condemned and checked, apology or not.

For far too long, Nigerians have at various times been subjected to all manner of ill-treatment in other lands. The South African example should serve as a wake-up call to the Abuja government and provoke an urgent review of her diplomatic relations with ungrateful nation-states.

Why for instance, should Nigerian authorities over-look an offence as grave as flouting expatriate quota rules, at a time qualified Nigerians are roaming about in search of paying job? How much of such foreign currency needs had been fleeced out of the country? What steps have now been placed to check reoccurrence?

Yes, South African authorities might have apologized, and the apology already accepted but what has been done to those South Africa officials responsible for threatening both countries’ relations. Business as usual? Or simply content? South Africa has said “we are sorry”.

Nigeria should look beyond the present, the provocation, apology, and acceptance. Abuja should be proactive in dealings with others. Also, if indeed Nigeria still hopes to see herself as giant of Africa,” now is the time to do it right. Only then can Nigeria choose her friends, instead of being chosen, annoyed and dumped at will by others.

My Agony is that South Africa has become, to wealthy Nigerians, what the United States once was to rogue government officials, to invest in and enjoy their ill-gotten wealth, and with the risk of losing such investments and personal property, will undermine any attempt by Nigeria to make a bold statement at the Diplomatic front.

Soye Wilson Jamabo