Ex-President Says Illegal Migration Must Be Tackled Through Law, Not Violence
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned xenophobic attacks against African migrants in South Africa, saying illegal migration should be addressed through the law rather than violence or destruction of property.
Obasanjo spoke during an interview on C-Suite Café dated September 10, 2026, where he also recalled Nigeria’s financial and diplomatic support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle.
He said Nigeria’s support was driven by principle and opposition to racial discrimination, rather than an expectation of reward.
According to the former president, the principle behind Nigeria’s position was that “no black person should be treated as inferior” because of race.
Obasanjo also argued that Nigeria played a significant role in the eventual dismantling of apartheid, saying South Africa might not have ended the system when it did without Nigeria’s leadership and interventions.
He recalled working with several international and African leaders during the struggle, including former US Representative Andrew Young, former British Prime Minister James Callaghan, former Mozambican President Samora Machel and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
On migration, Obasanjo said the presence of undocumented migrants did not justify unlawful actions against them.
He warned that authorities and citizens should not respond to illegal migration by committing further violations, describing such an approach as “illegality to treat illegality.”
The former president also questioned the tendency to associate foreign nationals generally with crime, asking how many were actually involved in criminal activities and how many contributed to the economy through job creation.
Obasanjo linked resentment against migrants to broader governance and economic challenges, saying failure to meet citizens’ economic expectations could fuel anti-immigrant sentiments.
He maintained that violence against migrants was inconsistent with efforts to promote African integration and economic cooperation.