The president and commander-in-chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, has said that Nigeria and South Africa should forge an economic partnership.
Malema also declared that Nigeria stood firmly by South Africa during its darkest hours while fighting for liberation.
Speaking as a guest speaker at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu on Sunday, Malema said, “The path forward is clear: Nigeria and South Africa must industrialise together, build factories together, and process our resources on African soil,” he said.
Hesai believes the continent’s “salvation” lies within and will not “come from Washington, London, Brussels, or Beijing.
“The path forward is clear: Nigeria and South Africa must industrialise together, build factories together, and process our resources on African soil,” he said.
He said the continent’s “salvation” lies within and will not “come from Washington, London, Brussels, or Beijing.
He noted that Nigeria is not just another African country to his country but a comrade nation that rose as a giant of justice when the people of South Africa were being murdered and imprisoned.
“People paid directly from their salaries to support the liberation of our South African people, we cannot forget those who stood by us during difficult times’ he stated.
He noted that Nigeria boycotted the 1976 Olympic Games to protest against apartheid, adding that Nigerian students also made sacrifices to support the liberation of their people.
Going down memory lane, the human rights activist noted that when former President of their country, Nelson Mandela, was released from prison, he visited Lagos and Abuja to thank Nigeria for its contributions.
He emphasised that the historic bond between Nigeria and South Africa must be sustained.
He also stressed the need for Nigeria and South Africa to synergise economically. He stressed the need to end the cycle of dependency in Africa, saying that Nigeria and South Africa can make a difference.
Earlier, the chairman of the opening ceremony, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, had urged the participants to ensure the implementation of their communique, which will be issued at the end of the programme.
In his remarks, NBA president Afam Osuigwe stressed the need for the participants to rise above the ordinary and make difficult decisions for the betterment of Nigeria.
