News Investigators/ The Labour Party presidential candidate, Chibuzo Okereke, says Africa should remain the centerpiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy, notwithstanding the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Mr Okereke stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
The presidential candidate, who was reacting to questions on the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, emphasised that there is power in togetherness.
He recalled that in the days of apartheid rule in South Africa, Nigeria played a significant role in the liberation of the Blacks and should continue to play the “Big Brother” in Africa.
According to him, If Nigeria deploys its resources and strategically apply its foreign policy instruments, it will have better result and better influence.
Mr Okereke said that should he emerge president in 2027, measures would be introduced to elevate the thinking of Africans in general.
He explained that the United States is regarded as the “melting pot” because everyone is free to pursue skills and achieve their dreams.
He said that Nigerians always celebrate compatriots who became successful or emerged lawmakers in America, Canada and other countries of the world.
“This (xenophobia) is a small mind issue. The South African government and people appear not to understand the power of togetherness.
“It is one of the banes of Africa where identity appears to be more important; where ‘if you are not from us, you are against us’ thought is prevalent.
“Our foreign policy will remain Africa as the centerpiece, but will elevate the conversation and the thinking to understand that nobody is coming to take away anything from you, that people who have resource competence and skills can contribute even better to the economy.
“This is what is making America, Canada, UK better off, because they are not talking of xenophobia; their immigration policies just state: come in the right way, but once you are in the country, nobody can accuse you.
“Almost all African countries have this idea of empowering their own people, it has to be our people. What can clear this is a more responsible government and better productivity.
“Respectfully speaking, African countries should respect Nigeria; their laws should apply to those who disobey them, but we should not have this kind of xenophobic attacks or what happened in Ghana.
“Nigeria should be able to have a kind of reciprocity that is also within governmental powers,” he said.
Mr Okereke, however, called for an end to the attacks on foreigners in South Africa.
NAN