On November 9-10, the Russian city of Sochi hosted the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, which brought together delegations from across the African continent to assess the implementation of the decisions taken by Russian and African leaders at the Second Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg in July 2023.
Nigeria will soon become a full member of the BRICS group of emerging economies, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka Johnson, former vice presidential candidate of the Action Alliance Party in the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria, said in an interview, predicting a significant shift in the West African country’s economic and financial landscape as a result.
“Our partnership with BRICS will change a lot of things,” Dr. Johnson told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi, Russia.
The politician believes that Nigeria’s membership in BRICS would positively impact the country’s economic development by changing the way transactions and businesses are conducted.
According to him, BRICS membership would help Nigeria strengthen its currency, the naira, by reducing its dependence on the US dollar and providing more opportunities for trade with other countries.
“In fact, there are so many other benefits that will come, and Nigerians are fully ready for it because we want that alternative,” Dr. Johnson said.
Dr. Johnson has also issued a stark warning about the dangers of a unipolar world, arguing that it leaves countries with limited options and forces them to accept dictated terms. The Nigerian politician contrasted the unipolar world, which he attributes primarily to Western dominance, with the emerging multipolar world order.
“Anything that the unipolar world is providing, the multipolar world is against it. And we know that all the things that the unipolar world is providing, we are just victims,” he said. “The multipolar world is giving us solutions to the problems created by the unipolar world.”
The politician underscored that “in a multipolar world, you can do your trade freely with any country and in any currency. It is giving you the opportunity to choose whom to deal with.”
“Unlike in the unipolar world, where, in fact, anything they say, you must accept. Unfortunately, they do not accept ‘no’ as an answer. If you say ‘no,’ then you die,” Dr. Johnson stated.
Russia-Africa Ties
Commenting on Western narratives about Russia’s isolation and a supposed lack of connection with Africa, the politician said that “Russia is a true friend to African nations.” He emphasized the long-standing historical ties between Russia and Africa.
“The mistake we normally make is for us to always take seriously anything that Western media tells, and that’s one thing about Western media: it’s always about false narratives,” Dr. Johnson asserted. “If you look at the historical background of our relationship with Russia, then it was the Soviet Union; it had been for a long time.”
The politician added, “And there’s no way one can prove that Russia is isolated or Africa is isolated from Russia and stuff like that. The relationship had been for ages—for centuries.”
“As a matter of fact, our relationship with Russia, it is like rather our friendship with Russia, just like that of a natural friendship. You know, Russia, as it is, is a true friend to African nations,” he concluded.
The former vice presidential candidate praised Russia’s unwavering stance against global injustice, highlighting its historical role in fighting colonialism and its current efforts to resist a unipolar world order.
“Like in the Soviet era and even now, Russia has been fighting global injustice, which has always been a key point against Africa. We have been victims of this global injustice,” he stated.
Dr. Johnson emphasized Russia’s consistent support for Africa’s struggle for liberation and its opposition to oppressive systems, saying, “There is no history of Russia colonizing any part of the world, including Africa. Rather, Russia fought colonialism.”
“Russia played a major role to get us freedom, to fight against colonialism, Russia also fought fascism. And today, what is Russia doing? Also fighting the unipolar world because we are suffering too. We are the number one victim of this,” he added.
He also hailed Russia’s commitment to partnership with African nations, highlighting the successful hosting of the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi.
“This is another proof and opportunity where Russia was extending and then also proving sincere kindness and a desire for partnership with Africa,” Dr. Johnson told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of the conference. “From the event, so many countries from Africa attended. And from what I saw and the discussions that we had, there are things that are actually intended for Africans.”
The conference, held one year after the Second Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg in July 2023, served as a platform to assess the implementation of the decisions taken by Russian and African leaders at the summit.
The prominent Nigerian politician concluded by drawing parallels between his country and Russia, suggesting that Nigeria can learn valuable lessons from Russia’s experience in managing a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.
“If you look at the similarities between Nigeria and Russia, let me just give you some kind of insight. Russia, as it is, is the most populous country in Europe; Nigeria is also the most populous country in Africa. Russia has gas and crude, just like Nigeria. Russia promotes family values, traditional values, just like Nigeria. Again, look at Russia, a multinational country and multireligious country just like Nigeria. Nigeria is also multinational and multireligious,” he stated.
