The All Progressives Party (APC), South Africa Chapter is partnering with the Africa National Congress (ANC), one of the longest-running political parties in Africa, to deepen its party principles and ethos and foster inter party relations as ruling parties in both Nigeria and South Africa.
The Chairman of (APC) South Africa, Hon Oluwatoyin Oyekanmi, made this known, stating that the purpose of the partnership was to foster a common goal and learn from each other’s experiences and uniqueness.
Oyekanmi, who led other APC members and leading community leaders to the ANC office in Johannesburg, stated that the meeting, based on the theme “Building Effective Partnerships to Advance Community Interests and Strengthen Bilateral Relations,” was successful on all fronts.
According to the Deputy Secretary, APC SA, Hon. Saheed Kareem, the meeting was a success as it enabled both parties to share issues of common interest.
He said, “We had our first ANC APC engagement meeting to build people-to-people relationships and deepen political ties.
“The meeting took place at Chief Luthuli House in Johannesburg on September 12th 2024, at 14:00 and was attended by Delegates from the ANC International Relations committee led by Comrade Nomvula Mokonaye and the APC/Nigerian Community Delegates led by Hon. Oluwatoyin Oyekanmi.
“This meeting came as a result of the plea by Former President Olusegun Obasanjo during the BRICS meeting of political parties when he called for the establishment of people-to-people relationships and engagement.
“DSG Nomvula Mokonyane stressed that any relationship we strive to establish must be for the good of South Africa and emphasised that the issue of mistrust must be taken seriously.
” She recognised the support of Nigeria during the apartheid regime but expected that respect for the rule of law must be followed in South Africa. The delegate prayed that South African businesses and Nigerian companies prospered in South Africa.
“They stressed the need to co-exist peacefully and cautioned that perceptions go a long way in suppressing whatever actions we put in.
The Nigerian delegates equally appreciated the warm reception from the host country and the ANC. They expressed their concerns, ranging from increased tensions among Nigerians living in South Africa to negative narratives about every Nigerian, Psychological trauma faced by Children born to Nigerian parents in South Africa, difficulty in the application process of Home Affairs as regards legalising ourselves in the country, and difficulty in establishing businesses.
“After hours of engagement and meaningful contribution from both parties, the DSG suggested that we start by being visible together on the street with a message “helping the Mayor to clean the city ” and working with the Community Police Forum for safety of our Neighbourhood, she said that the ANC will embark on Political education at ward levels in three key provinces (Westerncape, KZN and Gauteng) and promised that there will be further engagement to monitor the progress.”
The purpose of the meeting, which was disclosed to the media earlier, said that the APC is acutely aware of the pivotal role Nigeria played in the struggle against apartheid, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with South Africa during its fight for freedom. This legacy of solidarity has paved the way for the vibrant, dynamic relationship we enjoy today.
“It is, therefore, a great privilege for me to address you in this joint meeting between our great parties and, of course, our great countries: Nigeria and South Africa. This gathering, a testament to the strong bilateral ties between our two nations, provides a unique opportunity to foster dialogue, exchange ideas, and strengthen our partnership to pursue shared goals.
“Nigeria and South Africa, as the two largest economies in Africa, are responsible for leading the continent’s development and stability. Our countries share a common history of struggle against colonialism and apartheid, and we have a deep-rooted solidarity that binds us together,” it said.
