* Says ‘Violence mocks huge price Nigeria paid to pull down apartheid’
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has condemned in strong terms xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. He described the development as a betrayal of the key role Nigeria played to liberate the country from apartheid.
He spoke in Kano during a visit to inaugurate the Energizing Education Power Project at Bayero University, Kano.
Said the Vice President: “Let me say first that these recent attacks are condemnable. It is very sad and very unfortunate that the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians living in South Africa are once again being destroyed with such wantonness and with such carelessness and recklessness.
“It is unfortunate because Nigeria and Nigerians invested a great deal in the destruction and the pulling down of apartheid. Besides, these acts of bigotry are entirely contrary to the very ideals that all the great South African leaders including the present President fought for, and for which many gave their lives.
“Mr. President has already spoken about this and obviously we are very concerned and certainly intend to take this up with the authorities in South Africa in order to ensure that this sort of thing does not repeat itself. This is absolutely unacceptable and unconscionable.”
Iconic Dr. Nelson Mandela emerged the first black president of South Africa in 1994 after spending 27 years in prison in the struggle to end white-only rule.
Meanwhile, Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has condemned the recent attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa.
Kalu, a two-time governor of Abia State, said arrest of some suspects was not enough, calling on Nigerians to stand firm and retaliate rather than waiting on South Africa to fish out the perpetrators.
In a statement on Tuesday from his media office, the senator said “the gruesome killings, looting, arson of properties belonging to Nigerians and attack of Nigerian Embassy in South Africa is ill-conceived, disheartening and wicked.”
He continued: “How can any sensible person attack and burn a fellow human being just because he or she has a feeling to do so? Those mindless criminals who attacked and prevented law abiding Nigerians to freely conduct their businesses must be made to pay for their crimes. Arresting them is not enough,” he added.
Kalu questioned the essence of the renewed attack on Nigerians, adding that South Africans in Nigeria have always lived and conducted their businesses in peace.
According to him, “if the South African government does not do more to protect the lives of Nigerians, there should be no reason to allow them to operate freely in Nigeria. All their enterprises deserve to be closed down including MTN, DSTV, Shoprite among others.
“In the spirit of brotherhood, we have supported them. Our doors have always been open but it’s time we retaliate by shutting our doors.”
Kalu while commending President Muhammadu Buhari for dispatching a special envoy to South Africa, urged the Federal government to hasten its intervention and institute stiffer measures against South Africa over the endless attacks.
The chief whip said the Federal government should no long be patient on invoking the United Nation’s law on hate and all forms of xenophobic attacks against South Africa, “so as to make its government take the issue seriously.”