APC Chairman Advocates Improved Nigeria, South Africa Relationship

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in South Africa, Hon. Oyekanmi Oluwatoyin, has called for improved bilateral relations between Nigeria and South Africa communities.

Oluwatoyin made the appeal during a bilateral session between APC and African National Congress (ANC) South Africa, during the BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue held from July 18 to 20, 2023 at the OR Tambo Conference Centre, Gauteng, South Africa.

Oluwatoyin expressed APC’s profound gratitude to the leadership of ANC for inviting Nigeria’s governing party APC to the annual BRICS political party plus dialogue, which had in attendance political parties from over forty- five countries in the historic dialogue.

The BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue under the theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism.” The choice of this theme was apt: sought to make Africa the centre of focus of the forthcoming BRICS Plus Summit by mobilizing the largest number of progressive political parties in Africa.

The event had in attendance delegations from Nigerian, which included – President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Mohammed Haruna Manta, Hon, Mike Okwudili, Minister, Trade & Investment, Nigeria High Commission, South Africa; Hon Oscar Ogboro Omoriegbe, Advisory Council Member, APC South Africa, and the Hon. Oyekanmi Ouwatoiyin, Chairman, APC South Africa.

While addressing the press, the APC chairman in South Africa, Oluwatoyin, highlighted the rising tensions and conflicts and the stubborn resort to unipolar dominance which poses serious threats to international peace and security.

He said the rising levels of global inequalities, the persistence of under-development and spiraling increases in the cost-of-living are pushing more people back into poverty and creating social instability, reversing gains made since the Millennium Development Goals.

He added that escalating intensity and frequency of climate disasters are displacing millions of people, while the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted economies and peoples’ lives pushing them into precarity.

He further stated that, there is a renewed push from progressive forces, including political parties, civil society and governments in the Global South, that the only sustainable approach to deal decisively with all existential threats and global risks facing humanity is to strengthen multilateralism, international solidarity, social justice and dialogue to guarantee peace, security and prosperity of all nations. We need strong progressive and moral voices in both the Global South and in the Global North about a new, more equitable and just world order.

During a bilateral session on the sideline of the BRICS event, which had in attendance the ANC secretary general, Cde Fikile Mbalula; ANC deputy secretary general, Cde Nomvula Mokonyane; APC Advisory Council Member, Hon, Oscar Omoreigbe, the following issues were raised, and a committee was agreed upon to find a mutually beneficiary solutions to the problems.

They are: Business Visa regime to improve investment; Trans boarder crime prevention strategy; Improve community policy and safety of Nigerians in the communities; Drug prevention enlightenment community campaign; Lengthy court case and unbiased justice regime in South Africa Courts; Review of migration policies that promote fairness and Pan-Africanism; Putting of Nigerian flag in the South African Communities etc.

Subsequently, APC and ANC agreed to set up a framework for party-to-party engagement. “It is not enough to have these noble and progressive ideals. We have to be prepared to work together, tirelessly and resiliently to face challenges and setbacks we will encounter. Unity of purpose and acting together is indispensable to realise and defend the various development objectives, the commitment to diverse cultures and civilizations, that we articulated in this dialogue” Oluwatoyin elaborated.