MARCEL MBAMALUDecades after the demise of apartheid, South Africa is grappling with a new challenge: reverse apartheid. The phenomenon, characterized by the systemic exclusion of previously privileged groups, has sparked intense debate and raised fundamental questions about equity, justice, and national unity.
Nigeria, where the Igbo community has long decried marginalisation and underrepresentation, would do well to heed the lessons from South Africa’s experience. As Nigeria navigates its own complexities of ethnic diversity and national unity, the imperative of inclusivity has never been more pressing.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelMarginalisation is akin to a fire ignited within a house. It may start in one corner, but if left unchecked, it will inevitably engulf everyone and everything in flames.
Recent footage reveals that Coronation Park, once a cherished picnic spot for white middle-class families, has devolved into a space for dogs, populated by unemployed whites struggling to make ends meet. While these residents assert they bear no responsibility for the historical injustices faced by black South Africans, this shift has exacerbated racial tensions and fostered a sense of alienation among various groups.
It serves as a stark reminder of the perils associated with addressing inequality in ways that inadvertently perpetuate new forms of exclusion. Could this be a cautionary warning for Nigeria, where the Igbo community has long decried discrimination and underrepresentation?
Reverse Apartheid or Racism?
The term reverse apartheid encapsulates a troubling cycle of systemic exclusion and retribution that arises when policies intended to rectify historical injustices inadvertently engender new forms of discrimination. In South Africa, this concept has gained traction as affirmative action measures intended to uplift previously marginalised Black citizens have led some white South Africans to claim victimhood in the face of systemic bias.
The apartheid regime officially commenced in 1948 when the National Party seized power and enacted laws enforcing racial segregation. As South Africa began its transition away from apartheid in the early 1990s, the new government sought to redress these historical wrongs through affirmative action and land redistribution policies.
However, these well-intentioned measures have sometimes been met with claims of reverse apartheid, drawing criticism from figures such as Helen Suzman, who famously described such policies as reverse racism in 1994. Alarmingly, similar dynamics are now emerging in Nigeria as the Igbo people confront systemic marginalisation.
Igbo Marginalisation
Since 2015, the marginalisation of the Igbo people in Nigeria has intensified alarmingly, reflecting systemic exclusion that threatens national unity. The aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 1970 established a precedent for discrimination against the Igbo, and under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, it was reported that only one Igbo individual was appointed to lead one of Nigeria’s 22 security agencies—a glaring example of political exclusion.
Furthermore, under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, there have been continued patterns of exclusion, with key positions in government and security agencies predominantly filled by individuals from other ethnic groups. This ongoing trend further entrenches perceptions of marginalisation among the Igbo.
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Buhari’s tenure witnessed the Southeast being excluded from 47 key federal appointments, exacerbating this sense of political underrepresentation. Similarly, Tinubu’s administration has been scrutinised for its lack of inclusivity, with many Igbos feeling sidelined in critical governmental roles and decision-making processes.
Economically, critical infrastructure projects like the Second Niger Bridge faced significant delays, before completion amidst pockets of unfinished work. Federal roads and seaports languish underdeveloped. Socially, the militarisation of the region has resulted in extrajudicial killings and crackdowns on groups like IPOB which has been labelled as separatist.
On December 14, 2024, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe reiterated that Igbos are among the most marginalised ethnic groups in Nigeria during a public presentation of his book titled The Power of Nothing. These exclusions resonate with South Africa’s experience of reverse apartheid, risking deeper divisions and threatening national unity.
Although Affirmative action in South Africa aims to rectify historical injustices through land reform benefiting millions since 1994, challenges remain. In stark contrast, Nigeria’s perceived exclusion of the Igbo people since 2015 has resulted in significant political underrepresentation and economic neglect, mirroring xenophobic attacks witnessed in South Africa.
These attacks often scapegoat foreign nationals while paralleling Nigeria’s militarised approach to dissent in regions like Alaigbo. South Africa’s ongoing struggle with inequality serves as an urgent warning for Nigeria; cycles of marginalisation can perpetuate social unrest and division.
The Dangers of Perceived Manifestations of Reverse Apartheid in Nigeria
Marginalisation breeds resentment leading to cycles of retaliation as witnessed during apartheid South Africa and in the Rwandan genocide. In both instances, systemic exclusion fostered deep grievances that erupted into violence; apartheid incited anger among Black South Africans while ethnic tensions in Rwanda culminated tragically in genocide.
In Nigeria, exclusion poses a grave threat to fragile national unity and fuels separatist agitations particularly among the Igbo people. The adage “A house divided against itself cannot stand when one room is neglected the entire foundation becomes unstable” poignantly illustrates how neglecting specific groups can destabilise a nation and risk a recurrence of historical conflicts.
South Africa’s Reverse Apartheid: A Cautionary Tale for Nigeria
For Nigeria, the current plight faced by whites in South Africa is not merely a case of reversed racism; it serves as a cautionary tale.
The systemic marginalisation of the Igbo people politically economically and socially mirrors the injustices once endured by Black South Africans under apartheid. If these issues remain unaddressed, Nigeria risks fostering a future fraught with unresolved grievances that could spiral into dangerous cycles of division and retaliation.
South Africa’s experience underscores an essential lesson: pursuing equity must not come at the cost of creating new forms of discrimination. This is particularly pertinent for Nigeria as it grapples with the challenges surrounding ethnic diversity and national unity.
The path forward for Nigeria
The path forward for Nigeria necessitates an unwavering commitment to inclusivity within governance economic empowerment and national dialogue. Inclusive governance must ensure equitable representation from all regions while fostering a sense of belonging among citizens. Economic empowerment requires fair resource distribution alongside federal investment in underdeveloped areas, especially within the Southeast.
A national dialogue is crucial for addressing grievances and promoting unity among diverse ethnic groups. Justice and equity are pragmatic solutions vital for national stability; ending cycles of exclusion is imperative because marginalisation anywhere threatens justice everywhere. It is incumbent upon both leaders and citizens to choose inclusivity over exclusion if they wish to forge a stronger unified nation.
Dr Mbamalu is a Jefferson Fellow, member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), communications/Media Consultant and Publisher, Prime Business Africa.
Email: marcelmbamalu2@gmail.com
+2348094000017
Dr. Marcel Mbamalu is a communication scholar, journalist and entrepreneur. He holds a Ph.D in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and is the Chief Executive Officer Newstide Publications, the publishers of Prime Business Africa.
A seasoned journalist, he horned his journalism skills at The Guardian Newspaper, rising to the position of News Editor at the flagship of the Nigerian press. He has garnered multidisciplinary experience in marketing communication, public relations and media research, helping clients to deliver bespoke campaigns within Nigeria and across Africa.
He has built an expansive network in the media and has served as a media trainer for World Health Organisation (WHO) at various times in Northeast Nigeria. He has attended numerous media trainings, including the Bloomberg Financial Journalism Training and Reuters/AfDB training on Effective Coverage of Infrastructural Development of Africa.
A versatile media expert, he won the Jefferson Fellowship in 2023 as the sole Africa representative on the program. Dr Mbamalu was part of a global media team that covered the 2020 United State’s Presidential election. As Africa's sole representative in the 2023 Jefferson Fellowships, Dr Mbamalu was selected to tour the United States and Asia (Japan and Hong Kong) as part of a 12-man global team of journalists on a travel grant to report on inclusion, income gaps and migration issues between the US and Asia.
