The House of Representatives in Nigeria on had passed a resolution
condemning the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
The lawmakers also urged the President Muhammadu Buhari administration
to recall the country’s ambassador to South Africa ahead of a major
anti-Nigerians rally planned for Friday.
The resolution followed a motion by Rita Orji, a PDP member from Lagos
State, who decried how Nigerians are being unjustly targeted in that
country.
Another lawmaker, Sergius Ogun, PDP-Edo State, said the poor treatment
being meted to Nigerians was particularly troubling giving the role
Nigeria played in ending the South African Apartheid regime.
“I want us as a House to condemn it and I also want our government to
take a stand on it.
“How can we say that we are the giant of Africa when in other African
countries, our citizens are being killed?” he said.
In her contribution, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, PDP-Abia State, said Nigeria
should take extra-diplomatic measures in dealing with the latest
deadly assaults because the “the attacks on Nigerians in that country
have persisted” despite all diplomatic solutions explored by the
government.
Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, said it was time for all stakeholders to
“call a spade a spade.
“This isn’t the first time this is happening. South Africans continue
to kill Nigerians for no justifiable reason and this is completely
unacceptable,” Mr. Ogor, PDP-Delta State, said. He urged the South
African government to take up its responsibility of securing live and
properties within its borders.
No fewer than 20 Nigerians were killed in xenophobic attacks in South
Africa last year.
The South African government has also condemned the attacks, saying it
will introduce teaching of history in schools to help South Africans
understand the roles Nigeria and other African countries played during
the apartheid struggle.
