00:00And my point is not only informed by the fact that we were all contributors to the struggle against apartheid.
00:09I remember very well that it was because of the struggle against apartheid that our Nigerian president, then head of
00:17state, Bhutala Mohamed,
00:19declared before the Americans that Eric Kissinger, who was Secretary of State, was nowhere come to Nigeria.
00:28In the words of General Bhutala Mohamed, they said the era of Gombo diplomacy was over.
00:33Nigeria's commitment to the education of apartheid is non-negotiable.
00:38And they proceeded to naturalize British petroleum because the British too were supporting apartheid.
00:45So I can understand the pain that where we have built relationship, today we are looked at as if we
00:53are a body.
00:56But for me, sir, I didn't come to the Senate to lament what is not right.
01:01And I know that in diplomacy, there is a law of reciprocity.
01:06What are the issues in South Africa?
01:08The president of South Africa did campaign openly that foreigners were taking the jobs that South African people could do.
01:17That is why his hands and his legs are tied.
01:21What is my response?
01:23These Nigerians who are in South Africa, they are not there on holiday.
01:27They are there to work and to earn.
01:31And what kind of job they are doing?
01:33There are two categories.
01:35Many are traders.
01:37Others are doing maybe some high-skill jobs.
01:41So my view is that it is time to reciprocate this Senate to move, should adopt a position that MTN,
01:54a South African company that is cutting away millions of dollars from Nigeria every day,
02:01that Nigeria nationalizes it and withdraws its license.
02:06So that Nigeria company can take over the MTN business and recruit more people.
02:14Those coming from South Africa will find good jobs working with the company that will replace MTN.
02:20And I know that South Africa president has interest in MTN.
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