Lt. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, the head of state of Nigeria, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter sign a joint press release in Lagos, Nigeria, marking the conclusion of the first-ever visit by an American president to an African nation. The two men informed reporters that South Africa’s “the evil and oppressive system of apartheid” would be abolished as a result of their countries’ commitment to this goal. In South Africa, apartheid refers to a system or policy of racial segregation or discrimination.
However, Lt. Gen. Obasanjo conveyed his profound dissatisfaction about what he perceived as the inadequate actions carried out by the global community, which including the United States, against South Africa. Noticing what is bad has not shown to be an issue. We have mutually agreed upon what is terrible. We also understand what is necessary, and we both agree on it. Finding a quick way to accomplish the necessary tasks has taken some effort.
“We believe that Africans are completely capable of resolving their own differences in Africa as it relates to political and military encounters, and the intrusion of outside forces into African disputes can only aggravate them and exaggerate death and suffering of people in this continent,” said Carter, concluding his remarks. He had made reference to this belief multiple times, including in his toast a few minutes ago.
Former Nigerian Minister Mbazulike Amaechi concealed Nelson Mandela from the apartheid government in Nigeria for six months in 1963.
Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa, resided in Nigeria from 1977 to 1984 while being concealed there by the country’s elites. In 1963–1964, Jaja Wachuku of Nigeria prevented Nelson Mandela from being executed. Nigeria was one of the main backers of anti-apartheid campaigns in South Africa during the apartheid era. Nigeria gave South Africa $61 billion in help during the apartheid era.
More than 300 passports were provided by the Nigerian government to South Africans who wanted to travel outside.
