Nigerians resident in South Africa
have been directed by the Federal
Government to remain indoors up
until the ongoing xenophobic
attacks in the country are put under
control.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Aminu Wali, disclosed this to State
House correspondents at the end of
a meeting he attended at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the directive was
communicated to them by Nigeria’s
mission in Pretoria.
The minister said, “With the
discussions I have been having
with Nigeria’s Head of Mission in
Pretoria, no Nigerian has so far
been affected.
“They informed me that they have
called members of the Nigerian
community and addressed them
and told them to close their shops,
stay at home and keep out of
trouble and obey the laws of South
Africa.
“They have also confirmed that the
South African authorities have
moved in to take actions that
would forestall any further
disturbance in that country.”
Wali however said the government
would not hesitate to evacuate
Nigerians from the country if the
situation worsened.
He said, “If it (the situation) gets
worse, it is the duty of our country
to make sure our people are
brought back and we are taking
that duty seriously. We are not
prepared to allow any of our
nationals to be subjected to such
inhuman treatment.
“We are not being reactionary
because this is happening to all
foreigners, not Nigerians alone. We
are monitoring the situation and
will now take action according to
the situation that develops.”
On the investigation ordered by
the President on the recent
diplomatic row between Nigeria
and Morocco over the reported
telephone conversation between
Jonathan and King Mohammed VI
of Morocco, Wali simply said, “We
are still at it.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs later
issued a statement in which it
called on the South Africa
government to stop the attacks and
put in place measures to “prevent
a reoccurrence. “Condemning the
attacks which began two weeks
ago, it said Nigeria abhorred
violence and also “stands firm in its
conviction that no cause could
justify taking innocent souls.”
The statement read in part, “The
people and government of Nigeria
stand in solidarity with the rest of
the world to condemn these
unprovoked attacks on fellow
Africans who have left their
countries to seek greener pastures
and better livelihood for
themselves.
“The government of Nigeria would
like to use this medium to reiterate
its abhorrence of violence and …
therefore calls on the government
of South Africa to live up to its
responsibilities and take all
necessary steps to stop the
ongoing xenophobic attacks.
“It is gratifying to note, however,
that the a South African President
(Jacob Zuma) has condemned the
attack. In addition, the city of
Durban has also organised rallies
against xenophobia.”
Also in Abuja, the House of
Representatives asked the
government to recall Nigeria’s
Ambassador for “consultations
“over the widespread attacks and
killing of non-South African blacks.
A motion debated by the members
of the House in Abuja, highlighted
the plight of African migrants in
South Africa, whom they said were
being “slaughtered like animals”
by black South Africans.
The motion stressed that Nigerians
were among the victims.
The House specifically requested
South African President, Jacob
Zuma, to immediately investigate
the attacks and punish those
responsible.
The motion was sponsored by the
Chairman, House Committee on
Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-
Erewa.
“Nigeria frowns on the spate of
killings of Nigerians in South Africa
and requests President Zuma to
investigate the cases and bring the
perpetrators to justice”, the motion
stated.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that though
Nigerians had suffered xenophobic
attacks in the past in South Africa,
the latest cases were ignited by
comments credited to the Zulu
King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who had
reportedly asked migrant Africans
to return to their countries of
origin.
The motion read further, “The
House notes sadly that the recent
attacks which have left many dead,
businesses and shops vandalised,
many beaten up mercilessly, were
incited by a statement allegedly
made by South African Zulu King,
Goodwill Zwelithini, who told
African migrants to go home as they
are no longer welcomed in South
Africa.
“Son of President Zuma, Edward,
allegedly echoed the same
statement. This ignited a strong
debate, and worse still, immediate
backlash of violent reactions
among the Zulus in Kwazulu, who
unleashed terror on foreign
immigrants, including Nigerians in
Jo-bourg, Durban and Pretoria.
“They steal, break into their homes,
businesses, take their properties,
killing them.
“At least five have been killed in
Durban, hundreds stranded and
unable to return home.”
Many members, who contributed to
the debate, expressed sadness
over the turn of events in South
Africa.
They recalled with pain, the
sacrifices Nigeria made to free
South Africa from the clutches of
apartheid.
“What is happening in South Africa
is a demonstration of the shortness
of their memory,” a member from
Enugu State, Tobi Okechukwu,
said.
Another lawmaker, Abubakar
Momoh, advised South Africans to
turn their anger against those who
oppressed them in the apartheid
era and not fellow Africans, who
gave so much to secure their
freedom.
The motion was passed in a
unanimous voice vote at Thursday’s
session, which was presided over
by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.
A Nigerian based in South Africa on
Thursday told The PUNCH that the
South African Government was
secretly promoting the attacks on
black Africans in their country.
“It’s horrendous. The government
is secretly gingering them. The
government wants all illegal
immigrants to be driven away but it
went out of proportion. But our
people are prepared. We are not
running away.”
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
