Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has met with former Botswana President Ian Khama and former South African President Thabo Mbeki during a visit to South Africa aimed at strengthening conversations around African unity, peace and leadership.
Obi disclosed the meeting in a statement shared on his official social media page, saying the discussions took place in Cape Town before he travelled to Johannesburg for other engagements.
According to the statement, Obi appreciated both former African leaders for their comments on recent immigration tensions in parts of Southern Africa and for their continued support for peace, cooperation and unity among African nations.
The former governor said Khama and Mbeki remain respected voices across Africa because of the roles they played while in office and their continued contributions after leaving power.
“Both Mr Khama and Mr Mbeki continue to hold significant respect across the continent due to their remarkable contributions, both during and after their presidencies,” the statement said.
Obi’s visit comes at a time when discussions around migration, xenophobia and economic cooperation have continued to shape political debates across Africa, especially in South Africa, where concerns over illegal immigration and attacks on foreign nationals have surfaced repeatedly over the years.
South Africa has witnessed several waves of xenophobic violence since 2008, with many African migrants, including Nigerians, affected during attacks in different parts of the country. The incidents have often created diplomatic tensions between South Africa and other African countries, including Nigeria.
In recent months, political conversations around immigration in South Africa have again gained attention following growing public concerns over unemployment, rising crime and pressure on public services. African leaders and civil society groups have repeatedly called for dialogue and regional cooperation rather than violence or division.
It was against this background that Obi said he appreciated the interventions and public comments made by Mbeki and Khama in support of African unity and peaceful coexistence.
Mbeki, who served as South African president from 1999 to 2008, has remained active in continental affairs through policy discussions, governance advocacy and intellectual engagements on Africa’s development. He is widely known for promoting the idea of an “African Renaissance” during his time in office, encouraging African nations to pursue political stability, economic growth and stronger regional cooperation.
Khama, Botswana’s president from 2008 to 2018, is also regarded as one of Africa’s influential former leaders. Botswana under his leadership maintained its reputation for democratic governance and political stability. Since leaving office, Khama has continued to speak on governance, democracy and peace-building across the continent.
During his visit, Obi also reunited with former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, at the Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture organised by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation.
According to Obi, Fayemi delivered a keynote address focused on rebuilding African unity, strengthening democratic institutions and improving governance across the continent.
Africa Day is marked annually on May 25 to celebrate the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, now known as the African Union. The day is often used to reflect on Africa’s progress, challenges and future direction.
The Thabo Mbeki Foundation lecture is one of the events held to mark the occasion and usually attracts political leaders, academics, diplomats and policy experts from different African countries.
Fayemi, who previously served as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has also been involved in governance and democracy-related discussions within and outside Nigeria. His participation at the event highlighted the increasing role former African leaders are playing in shaping policy conversations beyond active politics.
Obi’s appearance at the event has also attracted political attention in Nigeria, especially as discussions around the country’s future leadership continue ahead of the 2027 general election.
Since the 2023 presidential election, Obi has remained active in public engagements within and outside Nigeria, often speaking on governance, economic reforms, education, poverty reduction and leadership in Africa.
Supporters of the former governor have continued to project him as a major opposition figure, while political observers believe his growing international engagements are part of broader efforts to strengthen his profile on governance and continental issues.
Though Obi did not disclose details of his private discussions with Mbeki and Khama, the meeting reflects the growing interaction between Nigerian political figures and respected African statesmen on issues affecting the continent.
Across the continent, governments are battling rising unemployment, insecurity, inflation and political instability. At the same time, there have been increasing calls for African leaders to work more closely together through regional bodies such as the African Union and regional economic blocs.
For Obi, the South Africa visit adds to a growing list of international engagements in which he has interacted with political leaders, development experts and institutions on issues concerning Nigeria and Africa.
The former governor said the discussions in South Africa further reinforced the need for African countries to embrace unity, peaceful coexistence and stronger institutions capable of driving development across the continent.