Prominent South African politician in Nigeria on religious visit

Prominent South African politician in Nigeria on religious visit
Godwin Etefia, Calabar

Founder of South Africa’s Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and frontline opposition leader, Mr Mangosuthu Buthelezi, is in Nigeria for what he described as a religious visit.

Mr Buthelezi who arrived in the south-south city of Calabar, Cross River State on Sunday was received by leaders of a religious organisation, the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star.

He told reporters at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport that he was in Calabar to see the leader of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Olumba Obu.

Buthelezi served as Minister of Home Affairs for two terms between 1994 and 2001 and had once served as acting president of South Africa in the government of President Nelson Mandela.

83-year-old Buthelezi is a Member of the South African Parliament and Chairman of the House of Traditional Leaders (KwaZulu Natal).

Ekata