From: wsargeant@IGC.ORG (Winslow L. Sargeant)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:Nigeria, questions raised over De Klerk
Date: 12 Apr 92 21:31:51 GMT

/* Written  1:22 pm  Apr 11, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "NIGERIA: QUESTIONS RAISED OVER DE K" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Africa, southern
Title: NIGERIA: QUESTIONS RAISED OVER DE KLERK'S VISIT


an inter press service feature

by remi oyo and toye olori

lagos, april 8 (ips) -- south african president frederik w. de
klerk arrives here thursday on a one-day visit, the first ever
by a south african head of state to africa's most populous
nation.

although nigeria's foreign minister, ike nwachukwu, has tried
to play down the news of what one commentator called ''the
event'', a lot of questions have been raised about the visit.

foreign affairs officials here insist that de klerk's
one-day visit is at his request. nigeria's acceptance was only
''to ensure that the convention for a democratic south africa
(codesa) succeeds''.

but de klerk's visit to a country traditionally regarded
as an avowed enemy of white-minority rule in south africa
cannot only be about codesa.

as chair of the organisation of african unity (oau), nigerian
leader ibrahim babangida is keen on mid-wifing a democratic
south africa.

despite mounting criticism of his embattled domestic economy,
babangida enjoys the support of his critics on the south african
question.

nigerians have always prided themselves in their material and
moral support for south african issues which dates back to the
mid-1970s when angola and mozambique gained independence.

adekunle ajala, director of research at the nigeria institute
of international affairs, believes de klerk's visit is ''a good
development bearing in mind our leadership of the oau''.

''i think it is our responsibility to give leadership and
direction,'' ajala, a professor of international relations
and expert on south african issues, told ips.

apart from its position as current chair of the oau, nigeria
stands to gain economically from this visit.

senior government officials deny that economic considerations
are on the agenda for de klerk's visit, but agree that strong
economic ties in future would benefit nigeria's troubled
economy. (more/ips)


nigeria: questions (2)

through its foreign ministry, the government has given a nod
to nigerians wishing to do business in south africa,
legitimising an already-booming route.

asked what nigeria could gain economicaly from a free south
africa, one-time nigeria u.n. representative and chair of the
u.n. anti-apartheid committee, maitama sule says:

''in the past, nigeria has been good at sowing but not very
good at reaping. let us hope that this time round, we will be
able to reap economically in a free south africa.''

economically ''promising'' as de klerk's visit may seem to
nigerian businesspersons, principal actors in the south african
conflict believe the ''event'' has dampened babangida's possible
good intentions.

''we are not happy the way this whole matter has been
handled,'' george nene, anc chief representative in nigeria and
west africa, told ips.

describing the visit as ''illegal'', nene says, ''careful
thought was not given to making such a serious decision''.

the anc representative says nigeria has erred by ''engaging
in a premature meeting with the leader of an illegitimate south
african government and by deviating from its policy of
consultation with the main actors''.

pac spokesperson in nigeria, reggie khumalo, says: ''it is
our view that at this stage of the developments in south africa
contact was not supposed to begin at this high level''.

in an interview with ips, kumalo said african leaders like
babangida should instead be pressurising de klerk to abolish
completely the structures of apartheid.

''the so-called reforms are not far-reaching enough and do
not merit a visit by de klerk to a major country like
nigeria,'' adds khumalo.

khumalo is even worried over minute but important details
such as babangida and nigerians listening to the ''anthem of
apartheid'' when the south african president arrives.

''the visit is like shaking hands with apartheid,'' says the
pac official.

but, says foreign minister nwachukwu, ''nigeria is a country.
we have our policies and our policies would not be dictated by
anyone's interests but our own interest''.
(end/ips/ro/to/tvh/apc/ar/92)