Hansard: Joint Sitting: Welcoming of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

House: Joint (NA + NCOP)

Date of Meeting: 07 May 2013

Summary

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD

JOINT SITTING

Tuesday, 7 May 2013 Take: 308

START OF DAY

TUESDAY, 7 MAY 2013

PROCEEDINGS AT JOINT SITTING

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Members of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces assembled in the Chamber of the National Assembly at 14:09.

The Speaker of the National Assembly requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.

WELCOMING OF PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

(Announcement)

The SPEAKER: Order! Hon members, Mr President, we are honoured to have amongst us today His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whom we have invited to address this Joint Sitting of Parliament on the occasion of his visit to South Africa. May I take this opportunity to welcome you to our Parliament, Mr President. [Applause.]

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION

UNREVISED HANSARD

JOINT SITTING

Tuesday, 7 May 2013 Take: 308

The SPEAKER

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Hon Speaker of our National Assembly; hon Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces; distinguished guests of honour; Your Excellency President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan: Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; His Excellency's distinguished delegation of honourable Ministers, members of parliament and two state governors; His Excellency President Jacob Zuma of the Republic of South Africa; His Excellency Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe; hon Ministers; hon premiers; hon Members of Parliament; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen - on behalf of the members of this Parliament at this special Joint Sitting and the government of the Republic of South Africa, I wish to extend a warm word of welcome to our distinguished guests of honour: His Excellency President Jonathan and his esteemed delegation.

It is indeed a singular honour for us to host His Excellency here in our Parliament especially during this very important month when we, as Africans, will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union. [Applause.]

As Africans, we look back with pride at the journey we have travelled in the past 50 years since the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, the OAU. Fifty years ago, when the OAU was formed, Africa was a continent emerging from centuries of slavery and colonialism. Today we stand here to speak of a different Africa; a continent of hope, of the future, of opportunities and of an Africa that is truly rising.

Indeed, we thank Nigeria for her pivotal contribution to our liberation struggle. So crucial was Nigeria's role during our struggle that it was considered a member state of the frontline states, even though the country is in West Africa and many kilometres away from the South African region. [Applause.]

Through you, Mr Speaker, to His Excellency, as an ancient African proverb says, and I quote: "Hold a true friend with both hands." In my mother tongue we say ...

SePedi:

"Tau tša hloka seboka di šitwa ke nare e hlotša."

English:

This is the partnership of the road travelled by our two nations and all others on the continent to make sure that the liberation of this country is the responsibility of us all. This is the essence of ubuntu: I am because you are. We take this opportunity to say to you, Your Excellency, thank you once again, Nigeria. [Applause.]

Our two countries have demonstrated this ubuntu in true partnership in the role that Nigeria played, and that we will continue to play together, on the ideals of Pan-Africanism for the renaissance of our continent. Your Excellency President Jonathan, as you said earlier today at a press conference: A strong bond of friendship and co-operation between South Africa and Nigeria is for the benefit of our continent; a pillar for the realisation of a better Africa.

Hon Speaker, hon Chair of the NCOP and hon members, His Excellency President Jonathan is in South Africa for a historic state visit as a guest of our honourable President. The two Presidents and their delegations held very fruitful talks this morning, which culminated in the signing of nine historic memorandums of understanding and agreements. [Applause.]

We wish to thank His Excellency President Jonathan for his commitment to and support for our bilateral programmes and for our mutual efforts on issues very close to the hearts of both our leaders. Those are issues of regional, continental, multilateral importance and nature.

Hon Speaker and hon members, may I now take this opportunity to say on your behalf: This is His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic Nigeria. He is the 14th head of state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Prior to his elevation to the position of President, he served as the Governor of Bayelsa State, his home state. Thereafter as the honourable Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His Excellency President Jonathan is a member of the ruling party, the People's Democratic Party, the PDP. Your Excellency President Jonathan, we welcome you, Sir, to your second home, South Africa, and to the South African Parliament. I thank you. [Applause.]

The SPEAKER: Order! I now take wish to recognise the presence of a delegation from the Ugandan government seated in the gallery. You are welcome. [Applause.] His Excellency, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to recognise you, Sir. I now wish to invite you to address the House. [Applause.]

The PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

UNREVISED HANSARD

JOINT SITTING

Tuesday, 7 May 2013 Take: 309

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

ADDRESS BY DR G E JONATHAN, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

The PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA: His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa; the Right Honourable Speaker of this great Parliament; the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces; Your Excellencies: executive governors from Nigeria that are here with us; members of this distinguished Parliament; hon Ministers; members of the diplomatic corps; captains of industry; and distinguished ladies and gentlemen; may I use this unique opportunity to say how delighted my delegation and I have been since our arrival in South Africa.

I am also deeply appreciative of the warm hospitality and reception accorded to us. This is also evident in the manner in which the leadership of Parliament has received us this afternoon. All of this is consistent with your well-known South African hospitality. I wish particularly to thank my brother, President Jacob Zuma, for extending the invitation to me to pay this state visit to South Africa.

It is indeed a great honour to be given the opportunity to address this Joint Sitting of members of this august body, the South African Parliament. As the arm of government charged with the important responsibility of making laws for the good order and governance of South Africa, the role of Parliament is crucial for the progress of this country and the welfare of its people.

Harmonious relationships between all three arms of government, especially between the legislative and executive arms, are imperative for the objectives of good governance and national progress. We in Nigeria are delighted to know that both the executive and the legislature in South Africa have forged a strong bond for the people's benefit. This is an example that is worthy of emulation by some other countries where the doctrine of the separation of powers and cordial intragovernmental relations still remain a knotty challenge.

At this forum, it is only proper that we acknowledge and pay tribute to those who made the freedom and democracy, which our two countries enjoy today, possible. Generations of young Africans have grown up over the past 50 years to witness and study the singular and collective heroism, as well as the inspirational examples of many icons of the South African antiapartheid struggle, among them are Chief Albert Luthuli, Walter Sisulu, "Madiba" President Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Govan Mbeki, Steve Biko, Chris Hani, and other men and women of valour and integrity who were imbued with the spirit of sacrifice, patriotism and devotion to the common good.

This new Rainbow Nation, where freedom and equality are now established as inviolable principles, is the product of their vision and dedication. Similarly, in Nigeria, our people will forever remember the efforts and contributions of Dr Herbert Macaulay, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Ernest Ikoli, Margaret Ekpo and many others who fought hard to secure Nigeria's independence from divisive colonial rule. These men and women in our two countries paved the way for the freedom we enjoy today. The people's liberty was well fought for and earned. [Applause.]

The huge debt that we owe the heroes of our history is not to be complacent with the freedom of our people and the democracy that we have established. We can stand on the shoulders of the icons of our history. In so doing, we will be able to look much farther into the future, but this also comes with a responsibility and a duty: a duty to ensure that, as leaders in Africa today, we also leave worthy legacies for successive generations.

Twenty-two years ago, Africa's living legend, President Nelson Mandela, was released from prison. Since then, this country has travelled more steadily on a path of progress and grown in stature. We do not only have a new South Africa under majority rule. Its institutions and processes have become inclusive. A new generation has emerged that is fired by a sense of unalloyed patriotism and common destiny.

Here we are, today, with the head of state of another African country addressing the Joint Sitting of the Parliament of a free, independent and democratic South Africa that has assumed its rightful place in the community of nations. [Applause.]

We have arrived at such a moment as this because the people of South Africa never gave up their belief in the rightness of their course in their quest for freedom and equality. The peoples of Africa and the rest of the democratic world also did not relent in the support they gave to the people of South Africa to remove the shackles of racism, apartheid and colonialism which combined to hold them down for so long.

The role played by individual nations, including my country Nigeria, in the struggle for the emergence of a new South Africa that is nonracial, independent and democratic is already part of the special linkages between our two countries. In those dark seasons, Nigerians stood by their South African brothers and sisters because we shared your pains and concerns. Today, we also stand shoulder to shoulder with you as brothers and sisters and as partners, working together in pursuit of mutually beneficial interests. [Applause.]

Suffice it to say that throughout the long drawn-out, antiapartheid struggle, although we were not geographically contiguous, Nigeria was, nevertheless, considered a frontline state, by the sheer fact of our commitment to the just struggle for freedom in South Africa.

It is important to recall that this was a cause every Nigerian was committed to, not just those in government, but also the people themselves. It was for this reason that in Nigeria the Southern African Relief Fund, Sarf, was created. This was funded with deductions from the salary of every Nigerian worker irrespective of rank, both in the public and private sector, as well as donations from ordinary Nigerians in all walks of life, including students. This fund was placed at the disposal of the liberation struggle. [Applause.]

Nigeria provided scholarships for students from South Africa. Our musicians waxed lyrical in songs in support of the anti-apartheid struggle. A memorable one in this respect - one that I will always remember - is sung by the late Sonny Okosun, titled Fire in Soweto. For those who listen to that music, some verses will always reoccur and you will remember:

Fire in Soweto, burning all my people

Rebel in Zimbabwe, victimising my people

Look at them shooting, my people are dying ...

They go on and on and say, "The colour of God is neither black nor white." [Applause.] And the conclusion or the chorus is: "We have a reason - freedom is our goal." [Applause.]

Back home in Nigeria I remember vividly that even as students, when that song and music were played – and when you talked about "freedom is our goal" - Nigerian students would be jumping to the skies to see if they could join their South African brothers and sisters to make sure that apartheid collapsed.

Our poets wrote protest literature denouncing man's inhumanity to man. Whenever South Africans protested against injustice, Nigerian students also took to the streets in support and solidarity.

At the international level, Nigeria gave leadership at the United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity, as it then was, the Commonwealth and several other fora in the fight against apartheid. For instance, we chaired the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid for most of its existence.

We spearheaded the boycott of the Commonwealth Games. We nationalised the assets of British Petroleum, and kept away from our borders those who had dealings with the then racist minority regime in South Africa, all in the course of the fight against apartheid and minority rule. [Applause.] Your struggle was our struggle, your pain was our pain, and, today, your freedom is our freedom. [Applause.]

South Africa and Nigeria have been placed by destiny to play a leading role in the emergence of the new Africa – a renaissance Africa whose beginnings are already evident. This new Africa would be a democratic, united and peaceful Africa, and its construction is the challenge of our time.

At a time when many developed countries of the world are facing the challenges of economic and financial crises, including the sovereign debt crisis, Africa's economic growth rate seems to be on an upward trajectory. Today, in the area of governance, the story is also positive. We have many more democratic nations in Africa than at any other time in our history. We have witnessed elected African heads of state and reverted into order elected sets of leaders. In some countries two or three set of leaders have done that, showing that military intervention in the politics of Africa is almost becoming history.

Sadly, however, democratic institutions are still weak in many African countries. There are also conflicts and routine violations of the rule of law. These are being addressed by our subregional and regional organisations on the basis of commonly agreed-upon peace and security protocols. In addition, African legislatures must see the need to insist on respect for the rule of law and accountability in the conduct of governmental affairs across Africa. [Applause.] More than ever before, we Africans must take our destiny in our hands and make a success of it.

At no other time than today should the continent as a whole and our two countries in particular, focus our minds on the nature and direction of this renaissance. On the 25th of this month, Africa will be celebrating the golden jubilee of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union. The major task of the continental organisation has been to liberate the African continent from the vestiges of colonialism, racism and apartheid.

As we take stock of the achievements of our continental organisation, it is also appropriate that we reflect and decide where our continent should be in the next 50 years. That destination has to be a democratic and united Africa that is at peace with itself and can compete with the rest of the world.

There is no doubt that in the global scheme of things, Africa has emerged as the new frontier for trade and investment. This provides another opportunity for our continent to embark on the road to economic emancipation, now that the political liberation of the continent is almost complete.

In the context of this new interest in Africa, it is important that African leadership across the continent recognises the extra burden of responsibility expected of it to manage the situation in a manner that will be beneficial to our people. There is certainly a lot more that we can do.

We must work together to put an end to the exploitation and exploration of Africa's resources for export without any value being added. [Applause.] In this regard, African countries must transform from being primary sources of raw materials - forest produce, agri-products or minerals - to producers of semifinished products so that we can create jobs, increase resources and create wealth for our people. We must check the loss of Africa's trained manpower to already developed countries. These are the very people we need to scale up our economies and to improve our public and social services. [Applause.]

We must work together to promote trade and investment among our countries and build transnational infrastructure in such critical sectors as trade, telecommunications and transportation in order to fast-track the process of people-centred, continental integration.

We must check the illicit transfer of huge sums of money to the developed world from Africa through sharp practices such as transfer pricing, tax evasion and corruption, all of which contribute to Africa's economic underperformance. [Applause.]

Many African countries are faced with the challenges of terrorism and other acts of violence, which compound security problems across national and regional borders. African leaders and particularly our parliamentarians must commit to the plan to check the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The production, circulation and use of these arms and weapons pose a serious threat to political stability and the safety and welfare of our people.

Our two countries are placed in a unique position to lead all of Africa to the promised land where poverty, inequality, want, disease, and communal and interstate conflicts will largely be things of the past. South Africa and Nigeria, with our robust economies and large markets, are well placed to accelerate the emergence of this African Renaissance. [Applause.]

Happily, we already have a mechanism established to drive our bilateral relations in all its ramifications. It is heartening to know that our binational commission, which functions at a very high level, is very successful. We have to commend President Zuma because he was one of the pioneer coaches for the binational commission that came into existence in 1999 through 2000, when he was the Deputy President of this great country. [Applause.] In this connection, as we continue the implementation of my country's transformation agenda, I am happy to report that the outlook on Nigeria's economy remains positive with strong fundamentals.

Even in this challenging global environment, Nigeria's growth rate, which has averaged nearly 7% over the past five years, is expected to be marginally above 7% throughout the year 2013. [Applause.] This makes Nigeria one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

South Africa, as a major investor in the Nigerian economy, is a major beneficiary of this development. South African companies like MTN, Standard Bank, MultiChoice, Multi-Links, the Protea hotel chain, Shoprite, SA Breweries, among others, are actively engaged and are actually thriving in virtually every sector of the Nigerian economy from telecommunications to power, education, aviation, construction, hospitality, entertainment and retail trade.

Nigerians are also active in the South African economy. Our binational commission must however begin to pay careful attention to the need for a balance of trade between our two countries in order to make our economic interactions truly beneficial to both nations.

Our two countries have not been found wanting as can be seen in the leadership we are giving to our respective subregions and to the continent as a whole. We must realise that we can achieve more, acting in concert rather than acting alone. We, in Nigeria, are committed to doing more to discharge the responsibilities that providence has placed on us. I have no doubt that South Africa will also continue to do the same.

The same spirit should be adopted in tackling the challenges that face our continent in the international arena. Here, I have in mind the nonrepresentation of Africa in certain organs of the global governance architecture, notably the permanent membership category of the United Nations Security Council. [Applause.]

For a start, it is important that we work together to ensure that the reform of the United Nations system is accorded the priority that it deserves and resolved speedily. The commitment of all Africans should be to strengthen Africa's place in the United Nations. This is not a matter of competition but of putting Africa in the best light.

Let me use this opportunity to correct a very negative and wrong impression that has been peddled by some sectors that Nigeria and South Africa are competing to represent Africa in the permanent membership seats of the United Nations. You cannot compete for something that does not exist. [Laughter.] [Applause.] I have never seen two women fighting over a nonexistent husband. [Laughter.]

The commitment that African leaders have is that Africa must be represented. They must give us slots as permanent members of that global body. If Nigeria and South Africa will not lead that struggle, who else will? [Applause.] So, whenever President Jonathan or President Zuma talk about the need for Africa to be there, it is beyond the interests of Nigeria and South Africa, but is that of Africa. [Applause.]

As we look into the future, I see ground for optimism and hope. I see an Africa on the rise, an Africa that is resilient, upbeat and confident about its capacity to handle its challenges. All we need is to mobilise the required political will and to be relentless in our quest to achieve our collective dreams. Acting together, we have already achieved milestones that some thought impossible, such as ridding our continent of the triple scourges of colonialism, racism and apartheid.

The role of the legislature in helping to bring this about cannot be overemphasised. It is for this reason that I call on you all - distinguished and hon Members of Parliament - to join hands with the executive and the other arm of government, both in this great country and the rest of the continent, to bring about this African Renaissance.

My presence here today signals a spirit of renewal of our partnership. Together, we will make Africa great. Leadership comes with sacrifices. As leaders in Africa, we must commit ourselves to breaking down barriers and fostering regional trade and integration. [Applause.]

We must build stronger and more resilient economies to create jobs and unleash hope for millions of our people. The dark periods are over, a new era has begun. [Applause.]

This great Rainbow Nation of South Africa has bequeathed to humanity a beautiful story of unity in diversity. It is an amazing story of triumph over daunting challenges in very difficult circumstances. By demonstrating to the world that diversity can be a springboard to peaceful coexistence, unity and progress, South Africa and South Africans have reaffirmed that the colour of our skin, the language we speak and our religious beliefs are only accessories to existence, not existence itself. [Applause.] At the core of existence is the dignity of our humanity.

Now together we must sing the song of democracy and development so as to defend our dignity, which has come under the assault of deprivation and poverty. Together, we must stand in solidarity for economic and social justice for our people. Together, we shall continue to make Africa a land of delight, a land of great hope and glorious aspirations where dreams come true for us and generations to come.

The words of your national anthem continue to inspire us: "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" [Lord bless Africa]. [Applause.] Once more, I am grateful for the opportunity to share these few thoughts with you this afternoon. I thank you! [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Order, hon members! Order! I will now call upon the hon R J Tau of the National Council of Provinces to propose a vote of thanks. [Applause.]

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr R J Tau)

UNREVISED HANSARD

JOINT SITTING

Tuesday, 7 May 2013 Take: 310

DR G E JONATHAN, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

VOTE OF THANKS TO PRESIDENT JONATHAN

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr R J Tau): Your Excellency President of the Republic, Jacob Zuma; Your Excellency President Ebele Jonathan; Your Excellency Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe; Ministers; Deputy Ministers and other representatives of the Republic; parliamentary presiding officers; leaders of political parties; Your Excellencies ambassadors and high commissioners; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen: on behalf of the South African Republic and the people of South Africa, I rise to convey our profound appreciation to His Excellency President Jonathan for the visit to the beautiful and majestic shores of our country.

We are, indeed, highly delighted that you decided to visit us, because your presence amongst us further confirms the strong relations that our countries have built prior to and after we attained our freedom in 1994. We know as a matter of fact that our relations with the people of Nigeria will continue to grow from strength to strength, because we have a partnership that is first and foremost embedded in our shared desire for a continental and global order that respects the diversity and equality of our inhabitants.

This partnership is also driven by a strong and common determination to promote peace and stability on our continent, to strengthen the institutions of the African Union and to promote democracy and good governance, underpinned of course by a firm belief that we have a collective duty to address the social injustices that derive from poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment that have come to characterise not only South Africa but the continent as a whole.

I am indeed very happy that our countries enjoy a high level of bilateral co-operation which is structured in the binational commission to foster a strategic partnership that will ensure co-operation in areas such as safety and security, transport, trade and industry, health, science, technology, education, energy, environment, tourism, and arts and culture.

Your Excellency President Jonathan, let me again thank you for visiting our country and for your important address to our Parliament. We would like to convey to you, and through you to the people of Nigeria, our respect and admiration of the people of Nigeria and their selfless and unwavering commitment to the advancement of our continent and the enormous strength we draw from the friendship and solidarity that Nigeria has continued to extend to us.

We believe, from now on, with this strength, with this co-operation, we can only go from strength to strength. I thank you very much. [Applause].

The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces adjourned the Joint Sitting at 14:49.

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