NIGERIA’S ROLE IN THE EXPULSION/WITHDRAWAL OF SOUTH AFRICA FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS

Abstract

Nigeria’s commitment to the anti-apartheid struggle had been made absolutely clear even before it attained its independence on October 1st, 1960. Following the Sharpeville massacres of March 21st, 1960, when South African police shot and killed 72 blacks and wounded 184, there was a general consensus among all Nigerian political parties, as well as the regional and federal governments, that decisive actions should be taken against the Pretoria regime in order to force that regime to change its abominable apartheid policy. This event marked the beginning of Nigeria’s confrontation against white South Africa. Nigeria demanded and spearheaded the forceful expulsion/withdrawal of South Africa from the Commonwealth by mobilizing other black African countries in isolating South Africa in such a way that it would realize the absurdity of its racist policies. It is against this background that this paper assesses Nigeria’s role in the expulsion or forceful withdrawal of South Africa from the Commonwealth of Nations.