Johannesburg – Nigerian opposition leader and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi wrapped up a two-day visit to South Africa on Africa Day, Sunday 25 May 2026, after holding talks with two former African heads of state in Cape Town and a candid engagement with Nigerians living in Johannesburg.
On 24 May, before leaving Cape Town for Johannesburg, Obi met with former Botswana President Ian Khama and former South African President Thabo Mbeki. He said the meeting gave him an opportunity to thank both leaders for their public comments on recent immigration tensions in the region and for their continued push for peace and unity among African nations.
Obi noted that both Khama and Mbeki continue to command significant respect across the continent because of their contributions during and after their time in office. 
During his time with Mbeki, Obi also crossed paths with former Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who delivered the keynote address at the Thabo Mbeki Africa Day lecture. Fayemi’s address focused on rebuilding unity and revitalising institutions across the continent. The event was organised by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation.
On Africa Day itself, Obi’s final engagement in South Africa was a meeting with Nigerians living in Johannesburg, which he described as frank, emotional and deeply reflective of the realities confronting Nigerians both at home and abroad.
The session was repeatedly interrupted by passionate questions touching on diplomacy, the treatment of Nigerians in foreign countries, the political situation back home and the growing desire among many young Nigerians in the diaspora to return home and contribute to nation-building, if only conditions were more conducive.
Obi told those gathered that the respect a citizen receives abroad is closely tied to how respected their country is at home.
“A country that works, protects its institutions, upholds justice, and cares for its people naturally commands global respect. This is why leadership and governance must remain people-oriented, accountable, and rooted in competence and integrity,” he said.
He acknowledged the frustrations many expressed but urged Nigerians abroad to stay within the bounds of the law regardless of the difficulties they face.
“Nation-building demands discipline, civic responsibility, and the willingness to pursue change through constructive engagement,” he said.
Obi said the engagement left him more convinced that Nigerians around the world remain hopeful about their country’s future despite present challenges.
“Our task as leaders is to inspire that hope with sincerity, measurable action, and a commitment to building a secure, productive, and inclusive Nigeria,” he said.
