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Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, a preeminent scholar of political science, has charged South Africa with orchestrating a deliberate campaign to discredit Nigeria on the world stage. Akinyemi’s assertion suggests that this “negative competition” is a deliberate ploy to undermine Nigeria’s international standing and erode its influence.
Professor Akinyemi, a veteran scholar and former helmsman of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), shared his insights as a guest on Channels Television’s flagship Sunday Politics programme.
Professor Akinyemi posited that Nigeria’s ascension to the coveted BRICS+ bloc, a nine-nation economic and political powerhouse, is being thwarted by South Africa’s deliberate acts of “negative competition,” a move that could stifle Nigeria’s global influence.
“Nigeria should have been BRICS member at the beginning,” the octogenarian said, adding that he discussed the idea with a sitting President who said Nigeria won’t beg to join BRICS. He said the President of Nigeria as of the time of the establishment of the bloc owed Nigerians an explanation as to why the country didn’t make it to the group.
“The reason the second batch of countries invited to join BRICS is because there is negative competition between South Africa and Nigeria, and that one is not the fault of Nigeria.
“In spite of all the things we did for South Africa, South Africa is determined to derail Nigeria wherever she could. Where this whole thing is going, of course, is who will occupy one of the African Permanent Seats in the Security Council of the United Nations.
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“Unfortunately, with Nigeria being out of BRICS, BRICS members are going to automatically support South Africa, and that is what South Africa is aiming this whole competition about,” he explained.
Professor Akinyemi suggested that Nigeria must first establish a robust economic framework, akin to South Africa’s, which has earned the country its status as an “economic giant” on the continent, before contemplating membership in the esteemed BRICS+ bloc.
The scholar emphasized that Nigeria’s leaders must pivot towards industrialization, breaking free from the shackles of exporting unprocessed raw materials and instead, focus on adding value to them, thereby catalyzing sustainable economic growth.
South Africa, with about 62.4 million population, and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $373.23bn, according to data by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is a member of BRICS+ and the G20, while Nigeria with 227 million people and $252.74bn GDP is not a member of both blocs.
In 2006, the BRICS alliance was forged, uniting the rapidly growing economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with the ambition of reshaping the global economic order and contesting the prevailing influence of the affluent nations in North America and Western Europe.
With the addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates in January, the BRICS+ alliance has grown in size and economic influence, now accounting for approximately 37% of global GDP, cementing its position as a major player in the world economy.
