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Obasanjo, who had just returned from South Africa, where he met President Cyril Ramaphosa, expressed worry over the situation, saying: “There is so much at stake and whatever mistake we have made, we have to correct it.”
He commended President Ramaphosa for sending emissaries to apologise to Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique, whose citizens were attacked.
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The former President recalled there was a Bi-lateral Commission made of top government officials of both countries during his tenure, which addressed issues such as xenophobia.
Obasanjo insisted not all Nigerians living in South Africa were drug peddlers and criminals as alleged, and that there were many genuine Nigerian businessmen and professionals, who have contributed meaningfully to South African economy.
“My joy is that President Cyril Ramaphosa is ready to do what needs to be done to stop these incidents and to put the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa on the right track,” Obasanjo said.
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