Agbakoba wants Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa
Human Rights Lawyer, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), on Tuesday said the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa should be recalled over the ongoing xenophobic attacks against foreigners.
This is contained in a statement by a law firm, Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL), in Lagos.
Agbokoba, a renowned maritime lawyer, in the statement condemned the attacks which had been ongoing, saying that the development could strain both countries’ relationship.
“The Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa should be recalled; our Foreign Minister should summon the South African Commissioner in Nigeria to convey our disappointment with the behaviour of some South Africans.
“The South African Government must know that xenophobic behaviour of its people is not acceptable to Nigerians.
“It will have the gravest consequences for Nigerian-South African relations; unless they stop their inexcusable behaviour,‘’ the statement said.
It said that Nigerians condemned in the strongest possible terms the unwarranted and unprovoked attack on Nigerians in South Africa.
The statement said there could be no excuse for the outrageous behaviour, especially in the context of good relations between South Africa and Nigeria.
It quoted the maritime lawyer as saying that Nigeria’s support for South Africa toward their independence should not be rewarded with such treatment.
“Nigeria stood by their South African brothers and sisters at their greatest hour of need during the apartheid years and this is no way to repay us,’’ It said.
The statement expressed shock that President Jacob Zuma of South Africa had not made a clear statement, adding that the Nigerian Government’s response should be stronger.
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6 Comments
Recall the ambassador for what? A few scared Nigerians in Jo’burg? Read this:LAGOS – At least 23 villagers have died in clashes between two mainly fishing and farming communities in central Nigeria’s Benue state, police said on Sunday.
“Some 23 corpses have been recovered following the fighting between Ologba and Egba communities in Agatu local government area of the state,” state police spokesman Austin Ezeani told AFP.
He said several villagers were also injured, adding that the latest clashes in the region centred on a dispute over fishing rights in the area.
“The two neighbours were fighting over ownership of a fish pond. The violence broke out on Friday and continued until Saturday with many people also injured,” he said.
Ezeani said the Egba people were also accusing the Ologba villagers of aiding Fulani herdsmen to attack them last month, killing 82 villagers.
“The Egba people believed the Fulani herdsmen could not have entered their community without passing through Ologba. So they believed the Ologba villagers must have aided the Fulani in that attack,” he said.
Police had been deployed to the area. “We have contained the violence. The place is now calm.”
Local media put the death toll at between 45 and 60 people.
Hundreds of people have been killed in attacks and reprisal attacks between farmers and ethnic Fulani herdsmen in the past few years in the state.
Fighting over grazing rights is common in Nigeria, pitting herdsmen against farmers and frequently resulting in deadly clashes and reprisal attacks.
I think you must have smoked something. You don’t speak like somebody with all in the upstairs intact.
The truth hurts..Jesus said anyone who has not sinned should cast the first stone. We have a problem in SA which the gov and society is trying to resolve but for u Nigerians to hop on this thing as if SA has unleashed WW2 on the continent is rediculous. This is the chance u naijas have been waitingfor to rejoice because all this long SA was the darling of the world and u guys were envious. OK, this is ur chance now, u can go the UN and tell them SA does not deserve seat in Security Council because of xeno..go ahead
Some of us have not forgotten about over 70 of our compatriots who were carelessly killed by your so-called prophet Joshua’s dilapidated building and he and your gov have not taken any responsibility whatsoever, instead blaming book haram and UFO’s
You Nigerians are still fighting over fish ponds but u claim to be more intelligent than anyone in Africa
Who made this clown a SAN
We will review and take appropriate action.