By Olanrewaju Adesanya
The reports of xenophobic attacks of hapless Nigerian Nationals in South Africa, has been described as a pointer to weak diplomatic relations amongst African nations and the festering scars of past experiences.
Reacting to the latest Sunday attacks that has led to a number of retaliations by Nigerians at the home front, Lagos lawmakers and the State Publicity Secretary all a swipe on the Nigerian Federal Government over the development.
A Lagos lawmaker, Hon Ajani Owolabi representing Lagos Mainland Constituency I at Lagos State House of Assembly, in his reaction to the persistent xenophobic attacks on African Nationals in South Africa, urge African countries to jointly address the socio-economic infestations to stem the ugly trends.
He said: “I think this is an opportunity for the stronger nations in Africa to begin to start forming a new dialogue about how to end this socio-economic infestation that has plagued Africa”.
“We always believe that if a white man comes with the same experience as a black man we should always trust the white man first, that is a mental chain.
“African nation should come together to address the social issues that we have.”
According to him, the only panacea to xenophobic attacks is for the South African government to address the scars of Apartheid evident in the socio-economic lives of 85 per cent of her citizens.
Owolabi, who condemned the xenophobic attacks on Africans in South Africa, said the development was a transfer of aggression by South Africans against foreigners in charge of their nation’s economy.
According to the young lawmaker, 85 per cent of the people who are predominantly blacks are worse off economically but 15 per cent who are foreigners control the nation’s wealth.
In his view: “The country is in a dire strait and they still have extant social issues in terms of the scars that Apartheid has left on them.
“I think a lot of the aggression they are displaying now is a reflection and expression of everything they felt during the apartheid regime.”
He said that the South African’s attack on foreigners especially the blacks was because they were unable to face the white that controls their economy.
On what the Nigerian Government can do to address the issue, he said they can only speak to the matter diplomatically.
The lawmaker added that safety of Nigerians should be paramount to the South-African government considering Nigeria’s contribution toward their freedom from Apartheid regime.
Another lawmaker, who was part of those delegated to address a group that stage protest to the House over the xenophobic attacks yesterday, Hon Temitope Adewale representing Ifako Ijaiye Constituency I at the State Assembly, cites the need for the Federal Government to take firm diplomatic decisions on the matter
Adewale said, “It is very disheartening, at what point did we classify ourselves as one in Africa? If during the Apartheid Nigeria is there to support South Africa, fought and spent billions of dollars, to get them their freedom.
“Then why are they doing that to Nigeria Nationals? They are killing other nationals as well.
” I think it is
lack of knowledge because they are not well educated, you can be exposed, live
in foreign countries that is well developed and still not be educated and not
be intelligent .
” You don’t kill people who look like you, if they work as hard as we do,
we won’t have this situation, they are thriving here they have their businesses
here, we have the DSTV,MTN, ShopRite and more here, none of them is going down
.
“So why are killing our people, it is painful that two days after the
Nigeria President is yet to give his words. He is the President he has to tell
the people of Nigeria, calm them down not to repatriate.
“He hasn’t the Speaker of the foremost State Assembly Rt Hon Mudashiru
Obasa has cut short his trip on legislative assignment to Tanzania just to
address this, because there was a protest outside there today on the issue and
people are grieving, because their families are being killed.
“It’s is time you sit back and ask are this guy’s actually human? To kill
a fellow black man like him, at what point will this stop?
Adewale in a clearly bewildered state notes that, The South African government should recall South African Ambassador of Nigeria and close down the South African embassy in Nigeria and our own embassy should be closed down there and bring our people back home.
“They have to
continue to educate their people, we find peace in Africa that is why we go
there, we didn’t go to the likes of Europe and Canada that want people to come
and live with them.
” We contribute to their economy, we pay tax over there, those who go
there on holiday just because we want to patronise Africa they kill them.
“What is the reasoning behind it, the government needs to stand behind his
people, they need to reach an agreement between themselves and the South
African government, this has to stop.
In a critique of the situation on the African continental shelf, the lawmaker notes that the inherent potentials of African youths have been misdirected.
“Africa we have
the intelligence, human capacity and the population,we are supposed to be the
next leading generation that is supposed to move Africa forward, why are the
youths killing themselves?
” European Union is very strong,what happens to African Union, why are
leaders not saying anything, why haven’t they summoned the South African
President?
“If they have to sanction the South African government or the country being part of the AU till the xenophobic attacks stop they should do it. It is about time they take responsibility as well.”
The Action Democratic Party (ADP) State Publicity Secretary, Prince Adelaja Adeoye in a release made available to newsmen also condemned the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians who legally resides in South Africa, urging President Mohammadu Buhari to take tough stance in addressing the development.
“Nigeria as a big player in the continent should not be treated with such hate, disdain and destruction of her citizens lives, business and properties abroad.
Adeoye noted with
serious concern that, “Africa must unite, close ranks and avoid any
internal crisis that is capable of setting them against one another.
” should be their brothers keeper , and not be wild, crude and show
barbaric attitude to one another, because such will give the colonizers the
justification that Africans cannot rule over themselves.
The ADP Lagos
spokeperson, recounted efforts of Nigeria, targeted at ensuring total
liberation of South Africa from the firm grips of Apartheid in time past to the
tune of $60b.
As reckoned by South African icon, former President Nelson Mandela (Late) who
also hide in Nigeria for six months to escape death in the wee hours of the
Apartheid gruesome regime.
ADP calls on the
President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, to immediately put machinery in
place to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians in his country.
As both Nigeria and South Africa cannot afford or endure a strain relationship.
The life of every Nigerians living abroad matters so much to all of us.
Adeoye also call for calm and restrain, urging all those who have already began to picket businesses with South African links in the country, especially in Sangotedo, Surulere, Apapa and other areas in Lagos to stop immediately.
” Nigerians must have a way of showing their displeasure without having to resort to violence or arson.
“President Muhammadu Buhari should also stand tough on this matter and ensure that a repeat do not occur again.”