Julius Malema
Julius Malema Tells Nigerian Bar: “Africa Will Not Be Subjects of Trump”
Enugu – In a powerful keynote address at the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference, South African opposition leader Julius Malema declared that Africans must unite to build a stronger continent, rejecting external influences and stating boldly that “Africa Will Not Be Subjects of Trump”. [22] The Economic Freedom Fighters president emphasised that the continent’s people should refuse to let foreign powers dictate policies, urging a borderless Africa with one president, one currency, one military command, and one parliament to rival global giants like the United States, China, and Russia. [24]
The conference, themed “Stand Out, Stand Tall”, took place at the newly built International Conference Centre in Enugu from 22 to 29 August 2025, drawing over 20 000 lawyers, dignitaries, and international guests. [23] It marked the first time in 22 years that Enugu hosted the event, after it was relocated from Port Harcourt due to concerns over constitutional democracy in Rivers State. [19] The gathering focused on the legal profession’s role in promoting justice, economic growth, and African unity, with sessions covering judicial independence, artificial intelligence in law, climate change, and nation-building.
Malema, a vocal Pan-Africanist and former African National Congress Youth League president, arrived in Enugu on 23 August after landing in Lagos. [20] He was warmly welcomed by conference organisers, including the Nigerian Bar Association president Mazi Afam Osigwe, a senior advocate of Nigeria, and the planning committee chairperson Chief Emeka Obegolu, also a senior advocate. [42] Before his speech, Malema met with the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who chaired the opening ceremony despite it being his birthday and recent travels for royal duties. [31] The sultan, a retired Nigerian Army general, received a surprise birthday song from attendees led by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah.
In his address on 24 August, Malema highlighted the deep historical ties between Nigeria and South Africa, praising Nigeria’s support during the apartheid era. He recalled how Nigerians contributed through the Southern African Relief Fund, the Mandela Tax from students, and boycotts of the 1976 Olympics and 1979 Commonwealth Games to protest apartheid. [19] “Nigeria is not just another African country to us. It is a comrade nation, one that stood firmly by our side during our darkest hour,” Malema said, noting Nelson Mandela’s early post-prison visits to Lagos and Abuja to express gratitude.
Turning to current challenges, Malema called for Nigeria and South Africa to lead Africa’s industrialisation. “Together, we hold the keys to Africa’s industrialisation and economic independence,” he stated, pointing to Nigeria’s oil, gas, and agriculture alongside South Africa’s minerals like platinum, gold, and coal. [22] He criticised neocolonial arrangements where raw materials are exported cheaply and imported back as expensive goods, urging joint factories, resource processing on African soil, and cooperation in renewable energy for a continental power grid.
Malema strongly condemned xenophobia, calling it a “betrayal of African unity” born from poverty and inequality, not from fellow Africans. [24] He addressed attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, saying they divert attention from the real issues of an untransformed economy controlled by a white minority and multinationals. “We must educate our people that unity, not division, is the solution to the African crisis,” he added, advocating visa-free travel and harmonised policies to end one-way migration.
On economic policies, Malema warned against “debt trap” loans from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which he said mortgage future generations. He shared how the Economic Freedom Fighters introduced bills in South Africa’s parliament, such as the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill, to require parliamentary approval for foreign loans and reveal their conditions. Other initiatives include nationalising the reserve bank, cancelling student debt, ending outsourcing to curb corruption, and banning alcohol adverts to reflect their true societal impact.
Malema reiterated the Economic Freedom Fighters’ seven cardinal pillars: land expropriation without compensation, nationalisation of mines and banks, building state capacity to abolish tenders, free decolonised education and healthcare, massive job creation with minimum wages, African economic development focused on justice over reconciliation, and corruption-free governance. Formed in 2013 after the Marikana mine massacre where 34 workers were killed, the party draws from Marxism-Leninism and Frantz Fanon’s teachings to fight capitalism, imperialism, and racism.
He extended solidarity to oppressed peoples worldwide, supporting Western Sahara against Morocco’s occupation, Palestine amid Israel’s actions labelled as genocide by the International Court of Justice, Cuba against the US blockade, Haiti for reparations, and the Democratic Republic of Congo for peace amid mineral exploitation. Malema criticised double standards in international law, where African leaders face swift indictments while Western allies escape accountability.
The speech ended with a standing ovation, inspiring calls for Pan-African action. Attendees on social media praised it as “electrifying” and “for the history books”, with one user urging young Africans to watch it for inspiration.
Other speakers echoed themes of justice and reform. The Sultan of Sokoto warned that justice is becoming a “purchasable commodity” where the poor suffer miscarriages while the rich evade consequences. He quoted the Quran on upholding justice regardless of personal ties and urged decolonising laws, addressing social inequalities, and improving access to justice amid rising litigation costs.
Governor Mbah, who declared the conference open, reminded lawyers that law is “the conscience of the nation”. He detailed his administration’s reforms: digitising courtrooms with e-filing and virtual hearings, expanding the multi-door courthouse for alternative dispute resolution, pro bono services for the poor, and reviewing obsolete laws for gender justice and business ease. “No one should be too poor to afford justice,” Mbah said, linking these to Enugu’s growth as a hub for investment and tourism.
Nigerian Bar Association president Osigwe highlighted the theme as a call for excellence, resilience, and tough choices for Nigeria’s progress. He referenced the 1949 Enugu coal miners’ massacre as a symbol of standing tall against oppression, urging lawyers to fight corruption, inequality, and impunity. Osigwe noted Malema’s requests upon invitation: visiting former President Olusegun Obasanjo to thank him for anti-apartheid support, and paying respects to the family of late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa.
Pre-conference activities included a health walk on 23 August led by Osigwe through Enugu’s streets, showcasing the city’s hospitality. Delegates praised improvements like compressed natural gas buses, modern terminals, and the revamped Presidential Hotel, crediting Mbah’s vision for making Enugu a conference capital.
The event, originally planned for Port Harcourt, was shifted in April 2025 due to governance issues, with Enugu’s new centre completed in under two years enabling the hosting. Organisers apologised for minor lapses given the short four-month preparation but hailed it as a miracle.
Enugu’s history enriched the theme: founded in 1908 on coal discoveries, it grew from farmlands into a city, with its port linked to Port Harcourt. The University of Nigeria’s law faculty and the 1949 miners’ strike symbolised resilience.
As the conference continues with workshops on legal tech and reforms, Malema’s words linger: “We are a shining nation,” urging Africans to reclaim land, minerals, and destiny for prosperity.
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