South Africa…How Ungrateful! One Good turn they say, deserves another, not in the Nigeria South Africa relationship, where the South Africans have decided to pay back a good coin debt with a big bad note. From the Mass deportation of Nigerians from South Africa, for lack of Yellow card vaccination, To Playing an irrelevant role During Madiba’s burial and the very recent attempt to frustrate arms purchase From South Africa, seizing legitimate cash for arms procurement intended for use in the North East Of Nigeria for fight against the Boko Haram terror group.
It so ironical to see those that castigated and frustrated ANC from achieving their goals in the Apatheid era, were the ones given front rows and full red carpet treatment at the Great Madiba’s burial…It’s a Common adage, that “when You cry, You also see”..South Africa We See!!!
I write this article not as a PDP or APC supporter but as a true patriotic Nigerian, that believes that the sacrifices of our common wealth for the pursuit of freedom in South Africa in the seventies & eighties should not and never be in vain, for the least, we should expect should be true friendship, bounded by historical ties, of being a friend indeed.
As Nigerians, we must begin to understand that the first thing that must cross our minds is our interest and our interest first. Did the republicans or the American people make a fuss over the Americans Bugging of the premier of Germany, Angela Merkels Phone, even though it was illegal, what mattered to an American at that point was devoid of political affinity, but rather that of the great nation, called United States Of America and its interest as a nation.
It so ironical to see those that castigated and frustrated ANC from achieving their goals in the Apatheid era, were the ones given front rows and full red carpet treatment at the Great Madiba’s burial…It’s a Common adage, that “when You cry, You also see”..South Africa We See!!!
I write this article not as a PDP or APC supporter but as a true patriotic Nigerian, that believes that the sacrifices of our common wealth for the pursuit of freedom in South Africa in the seventies & eighties should not and never be in vain, for the least, we should expect should be true friendship, bounded by historical ties, of being a friend indeed.
As Nigerians, we must begin to understand that the first thing that must cross our minds is our interest and our interest first. Did the republicans or the American people make a fuss over the Americans Bugging of the premier of Germany, Angela Merkels Phone, even though it was illegal, what mattered to an American at that point was devoid of political affinity, but rather that of the great nation, called United States Of America and its interest as a nation.
How I wonder, when during the thick of the apartheid period , when the African National Congress (ANC) and its members were labeled terrorist by their white oppressors, isolated by Europe as charlatans, lonely they stood, yet by their side stood the Giant of Black Africa, Nigeria, side by side we stood by the ANC, despite direct threats from the South Africa.
The Question is where did we go wrong???? Did the ANC leaders not pass our unrivalled gestures to the Jacob Zumas and co Or did we Sin to be our brothers keeper???? A Great example is what a true relationship should be like, is that of American-British special relationship, borne out of historical ties bonded by the Anglo-Saxon heritage.
This is one period Nigerians irrespective of our political affiliations, and sentiments must come together and speak with one voice, and uphold our national identity, and call the South African Government to Order & respect us not only as the largest economy and the most populous black nation on earth, but a nation that stood by their side, when the chips were down
On our part, as a nation, it is time to reason outside the box and take our place in the world polity. The world would never respect us, when we buy the most expensive jeeps to ply deplorable roads or fly private jets over unsecured environments, or be the Number 2 purchaser of champagne in the world, when the Taps don’t flow with drinkable water. We need to sit up as a country and change our orientation because nothing “succeeds like success” and the world would only identify with a country that progresses as a nation.
Contributor : K Bello-Osagie
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