Excerpts: By Vera Anyagafu,
Prisca Duru &Victor Gotevbe
WHAT
do you hope to see in Nigeria’s forthcoming elections?
Although, this would be the
first elections I would be witnessing in Nigeria, I hope to see violent-free
elections. I cannot say much on this election, because I do not know how
elections are handled here, but I do hear that so many companies are sending
their people out and more Nigerians who come to apply for visa also want to run
out in panic, but this should not be the case.
Normally, in so many
countries people are eager to go and vote. In my country for instance, people
jubilate during elections. People are always eager because you have the right
to vote who you want. But here, I do not know if Nigerians themselves are
afraid of the elections day. Yet, I want to see people going to elect a person
they want and they must be eager to do it. They must not be afraid to do it.
They must not be intimidated into doing the things they would not want to do.
They must have that freedom. We talked about the right to elect and that right
goes with the freedom to choose who you want to be your leader. It is
democracy. Nigeria has gone through many years of coups and democracy was
ushered in 15 years ago, and it is important to sustain that democracy.
Sustenance of democracy If
you look at Nigeria, there is no way Nigeria would change from its current
democracy status. Nigerians cannot even dream of letting go. We must see that
whoever wins the polls is the person of their choice, people of their choice.
We must see people rejoicing, people parting, celebrating the day they go to
the polls to elect that leader they want. That is the kind of mood we want.
Since
the exit of Nelson Mandela, do you see a leader emerging from South Africa
possessing similar values as Nelson Mandela?
I am hopeful that we have
leaders who carry similar values as Nelson Mandela. South Africa is a country
that is rich with lots of leadership material within their ruling parties. And
as you rightly pointed out, it might not be an identical twin of Nelson
Mandela, but there would be a leader with great values also. I should also
point out here that after Nelson Mandela, there was Thabo Mbeki. Thabo Mbeki
was not a replica of Nelson Mandela, but he was good too. I hope that my
country would continue to have such leaders, who are eager for a prosperous
South Africa and her citizens.
How
strong is South Africa partnership with Nigeria?
Our partnership is very
strong and tight too and this is evidenced by our investment in Nigeria. There
are so many South African companies that invested in Nigeria and a few of them
that people know are Shop-rite, MTN, Multi-choice, South African airways,
Stanbic, The Federal Palace Hotel, Protea Hotels, Southern Sun, Wheat-baker,
and several others. South Africa has roughly over hundred companies doing
business in Nigeria, and this prompted our government decision to establish a
Consulate General here in Lagos. Obviously a consulate general mandate would
then be to look after the citizens of South Africa and also protect their
interests here in Nigeria. Previously, the office here was part of the High
Commission in Abuja, and then the government decided to upgrade our presence
here in Lagos.
How
do South Africans in Nigeria celebrate historical events?
Well, every year we
celebrate our national day in April 27. Our national day is not our
independence day. South Africa got independence in 1961. Our history is such
that our independence was left in the wrong hands. So we continued with our
struggle for the elimination of apartheid. It was in 1990, that we saw the
fruit of that struggle. Then in 1991, we held our first democratic elections.
The date for that democratic election was in April 27. That was the first time
a black person would come to the polls in South Africa. After our National Day
in April, we have another event known as the Mandela day. We dedicate a week to
this event, and South Africans would, firstly, go and visit places and spend 67
minutes doing something good. It is 67 minutes of doing something good, because
Mandela spent 67 years of his life, doing good to humanity.
The United Nations adopted
or recognized that day as Mandela’s birthday. It is called ‘Nelson Mandela
international day’. It is celebrated all over the world. People are called upon
to do something good to the people. They would go and spend 67minutes of their
time doing something good to the people or the community. In 2014, we held this
Nelson Mandela event in Asaba, Delta State. Asaba has also become so important
to us in the sense that, some two years ago, we inaugurated a garden, known as
the ‘Nelson Mandela garden of 95 trees’ Dr. Newton Jibunoh was the initiator of
that project.
There, statue of Nelson
Mandela was also unveiled, and his two grand-children were there to witness the
occasion. We have a good relationship with the government of Delta State. South
Africa also celebrates women’s month and within that month, we indulge in what
we call ‘Pick a girl-child to work’. During the occasion, we partner with
universities and companies, and then we take students to go and experience a
work place. This helps these children to choose a pathway in life and at the
end the students will share their experience with others. There is also a
festival in September, where South Africans in Lagos will participate in
traditional Potjiekos competition.
How
can you describe Nigeria-South Africa relationship?
It is important to note
that we have so many South Africans here in Nigeria. And they are here because
of the good relationships both countries share. There are also many Nigerians
in South Africa. South Africa-Nigeria relations in key sectors of both
countries economy, grow from strength to strength every year. Some would say
Nigerians and South Africans are competing and if it is so, that means there is
a healthy relationship going on between us. And this is so, because you need
someone to compete with in order to progress and develop.
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