FG moves to end attacks on Nigerians in S’Africa

THE Federal Government yesterday said it is monitoring the steps being taken by the South African Government to stop the xenophobic attacks that have raged in South Africa against foreigners and their business interests.

A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday stated “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been following with keen interest, on-going efforts to put a halt to the xenophobic attacks that has raged in South Africa against foreigners and their business interests in the last two weeks.”

The release noted that some traditional, political and church leaders have met in the week in South Africa to address the issue.

“In the latest development, the Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini, on Monday, 20th April met with ranking cabinet members including the Minister of Home Affairs- HE Mr. Malusi Gigaba, leaders of faith-based organisations, including those of Christians, Hindus, Moslems, Jews, etc. in the Moses Mahbida Stadium in Durban.”

Present at the meeting were the Heads of Mission of Nigeria, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, the Pan-Yoruba militant group; O’dua Peoples Congress (OPC) has given a 48-hour ultimatum to the South African Government to arrest and prosecute the country’s high ranking Zulu monarch Godwill Zwelithi whose alleged hate speech sparked the xenophobic attacks on non-South African blacks and that failure to do so Pretoria should expect some unspecified actions against her interests and nationals in Nigeria.

Also, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to recall Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa over the unjustifiable attacks on Nigerians and other black aliens in the country.

OPC’s national President, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, who issued this ultimatum at a press conference in Lagos yesterday, reminded Pretoria that she had many interests in Nigeria that are within the reach of aggrieved Nigerians whose brothers and sisters being violently attacked in South Africa.

According to Fasehun “beginning with the belligerent Zulu King, all South Africans involved in these attacks should be arrested immediately and prosecuted for crimes against humanity.”

“While the Nigerian government and the rest of the world seek a diplomatic solution to this season of madness, the OPC hereby warns that South Africa must end this rash of xenophobia within 48 hours. These ill-advised attacks are capable of bringing out the beast in the best of men. And we will not watch as fellow Nigerians are wantonly killed in cold blood.”

“Enough is enough. South Africans must know that nobody has a monopoly of violence. They must halt the killings, the maiming and the looting of foreigners in their country. These incidents of xenophobia will provoke reprisal attacks against South Africans and their interests in other lands.”

Agbakoba in a statement yesterday said such action would give a strong warning to the South Africans that Nigeria is highly disappointed at the behaviour.

Agbakoba added, “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 at the behaviour of some South Africans.”