Xenophobia: Atiku, Others Condemn Attacks On Nigerians

Following the recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the last general election, Atiku Abubakar has called on the African Union and the country’s government to urgently address the issue.

Abubakar made the call on his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday.

He condemned the attacks on Nigerians, adding that if nothing is done about the attacks, it might end up destroying the fabric of African brotherhood.

He said, “Reported attacks against Nigerians in South Africa is unacceptable and stands condemned. Urgent steps need to be taken with the SA authorities and the African Union to bring an end to this ill wind that can only end up destroying the fabric of our African brotherhood. -AA”

On his part, the House of Representatives minority leader, Kingsley Chinda, also called on the Speaker of the house, Femi Gbajabiamila, to cut short the ongoing recess and attend to the killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

Reacting to the incident, Mr. Chinda called for the reconvening of the house to resolve on the best way to protect Nigerians.

“There is no better reason to reconvene the House than to save the lives of Nigerians and protect our integrity as a nation,” he said.

On his own part, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri lamented the situation, saying Nigerians do not deserve the treatment from the South Africa after the country stood by her leaders in the past.

Omokri tweeted: “10-@NelsonMandela lived in Enugu for 6 months while on exile from the SA govt. @Google it. Thabo Mbeki lived in Lagos for years. Thousands of South Africans schooled in Nigeria in Nigerian govt scholarship. Nigerians don’t deserve the treatment from SA. #StopKillingNigeriansInSA.

Also reacting to the development, former Bayelsa State Senator, Ben Bruce who described the renewed attacks on Nigerians in South Africa as ‘unfortunate’, noted that the country’s citizens deserve better.

On his Twitter page, he wrote: “I am saddened by the stories and videos coming out of South Africa.

“I’ve also read reports that the Nigerian embassy in South Africa denied entry to Nigerians who visited to register their displeasure. These incidences are unfortunate. Our citizens deserve better! #Xenophobia.”

Music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2baba was also not left out in the torrents of reaction trailing the incident.

2baba described the attacks and killings as ‘shameful’, and called on President Muhammadu Buhari and State governors to rise up and put a stop to the

On his Twitter page, he wrote: “President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator, governors, traditional rulers, ministers, prominent Nigerians, Inspector generals, PDP/APC.

“This is becoming too shameful. How can we have no dignity in our polity?

“Nigerians are being killed home and abroad and its all politics as usual. Shame.

“The real enemy of Africa is laughing once again. We need a massive reduction, re-orientation and reorganisation of Africa. Some idiot and backward thinking South Africans have embarrassed the whole continent once again and the problem has shifted from that to celebrities.

“Some of these celebrities are tired of shouting Africa unite all the time. We know the real enemies and until we stand up together and stop patronising them, we will remain mental slaves.”

South Africans on Sunday began fresh attacks, looting and burning of properties belonging to foreigners in Johannesburg.

At least three people were killed in the renewed attacks, while an injured person is still receiving treatment for smoke inhalation, the President of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), Adetola Olubajo, said on Monday.

Mr Olubajo said the attacks began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set ablaze by an angry mob.