• mingione

  Mar 7 2012, 08:20

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  Good advise from Ambassador Dahiru. There should be no rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria under any circumstances. Secondly, there should be no comparison between South Africa's economic strides in Nigeria and Nigeria's international standing on any issue pertaining to the African Continent. There must never exist these kinds of ideological competition between two brothers as to who is right or who is wrong in the conduct of any African-related international affairs. South Africa is about 24-million people strong and Nigeria is nearly 160-million people in this vastly rich country. It should be understood that South Africans are still facing what can be described as a "post traumatic syndrome" in the Post- Apartheid era. Therefore, in the South African psyche, anybody who may appear as imposing as Nigerians automatically poses a threat. This is understandable. Whereas I would recommend caution in pursuing a more realistic diplomatic response to these issues, it is vitally important that we do not give anyone in the West the impression that Africans are not together in their pursuit of issues pertaining to the management of the Continent. It is regrettable what happened in Libya. It is even more regrettable that we seem not to have a consensus on which way forward. At the beginning of all the liberation movements on the continent, Africa's liberation stalwarts such as Dr.Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, President Jomo-Kenyatta of Kenya, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria, Dr. Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, the ANC under the leadership of Nelson Mandela and many others had advocated through the then OAU for the establishment of an African-styled "Rapid Reaction Force" capable of responding to any crises on the African Continent. Unfortunately, this project could not take off because we Africans lacked consensus on the "funding mechanism". Had such being in place, Africa would never have had a need for NATO to invade Africa's air space to do what they did in Libya. But, you live and learn. To me, it's time this "RRF" is reconstituted to address the issues besieging the Continent in the 21st Century. We must not allow another intrusion by any foreign force on the African Continent. After having said this, I want the readers to know that at no time should Africans continue to tolerate the existence of despotic leaders on the Continent, starting with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, or President Wade of Senegal, or President Obang of Equatorial Guinea. These old relics must begin now to allow the younger generation to get involved in the art of democratic governance. Staying in power for far too long destroys the aspirations of the younger generations to get involved in finding peaceful approaches to democratic experiments. It's time we took stock of what we have by getting the younger generations involved in the management of Africa's Affairs. We must never resort to confrontations of any kind among ourselves to resolve issues such as the one brewing between South Africa and Nigeria.

• adams

  Mar 7 2012, 08:31

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  Should Nigerian authorities start asking for HIV and AIDS free certificate from South Africans before they are allowed into Nigeria. South Africa needs Nigeria more than Nigeria needs South Africa. These two countries should grow up and stop setting Africa back. I do not blame the South Africans for this, the blame goes to our Politicians who steal our money and invest it in South Africa, peole like Lucky Igbinedion and others are the one bringing this disgrace to us. If our government can stop stealing our money, invest our money to better our people at home they would be no need for our people to go looking for greener pastures in countries such as South Africa.

• KaparaK

  Mar 7 2012, 12:01

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  As much as I often agree with Mingione on most of his comments, I beg to disagree on this one. Nigeria has given too much kid's glove to South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon and many other runts that often take advantage of their big brother. On this issue, Adams is spot on. If small minds in South Africa want medical test results from Nigerian immigrants and treat them as shabbily as they were at their ports, then Nigeria ought to demand HIV test results from the South African immigrants and quarantine them at the border lest they infect innocent citizens. If that is not enough, kick out those South African companies salivating to gain access to 160 million Nigerian market. Enough is enough, and let's see who will cry Uncle first.

• metrotutors

  Mar 7 2012, 14:46

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  South africans are so puffed up that they believe that on the african continent, it's south africa and the rest.They should constantly be reminded that there are a lot of law abiding nigerians who contribute positively towards the development of south africa like teachers , doctors, IT professionals, engineers and a lot of business owners both big and small.A lot of south african companies are able to thrive in nigeria because of the friendly business environment while it is not so for nigerian companies here in south africa which explains while big companies like banks and food companies do not operate here in south africa. While we treat south africans like kings in nigeria, nigerians are treated like trash and second class citizens in south africa.There is double standards in virtually everything that involves south africans and nigerians.Relevant authourities in nigeria should stand and stop this menace and make south africa realise that they benefit more from us than we do from them.

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