By Ayo Kehinde
President Muhammadu Buhari has revved up the diplomatic channels in his reaction to the ongoing xenophobic attack on Nigerians in South Africa. After directing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama to summon the South African Ambassador to Nigeria for talks, he is to send a special envoy on Thursday to his South Africa counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa with a message to stop the killings now.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, “The President has noted with deep concern, reported attacks on Nigerian citizens and property in South Africa since August 2019. Consequently, the President has instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to summon the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria and get a brief on the situation; express Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens; and assurance of the safety of their lives and property.”
According to Adesina, “the Special Envoy to convey to President Ramaphosa his concerns and also interact with his South African counterpart on the situation is expected to arrive Pretoria latest Thursday September 5, 2019”
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the recent South African xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, particularly on Nigerians, their property and businesses.
On a statement, the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said the ruling party is deeply saddened by the unwarranted attacks on Nigeria, stating that, “Nigerians deserves better from South Africa.”
The APC said: “It is too early for South Africans to forget their country’s history. Many of the key players in the struggle against apartheid are still alive and active in the country’s national affairs. We therefore cannot understand why there seems to be a conspiracy of silence on their part.
“The barbaric attack on citizens of other countries points to a failure of leadership. South African leaders cannot exonerate themselves from this cowardly act. We call on the South African ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) to urgently step in. This is completely at variance with what ANC stood for. The ANC government can no longer pretend about this obvious contradiction.
“The violence being meted to Nigerians under ANC calls to question the very essence of the struggle against apartheid in which Nigeria was a frontline ally of South Africa. How can those who supported you and made huge sacrifices for your freedom become fair games to be murdered in cold blood?
“Perhaps there is a disconnect between the younger and older generations of South Africa. The older generation cannot sit back while the uninformed youths and some South African public officials in their quest for inordinate populism destroy what we collectively achieved over several decades of sacrifice and brotherliness.
“Today, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians. This is one of the first steps in this government’s proactive response to this unfortunate incident. We assure Nigerians that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would continue to take decisive measures. The safety of Nigerians – home and abroad – is non-negotiable to the APC administration.”
