It is a shame, to say the least, that with all the hatred, hostilities, attacks and killings South Africans, with the support from the Cyril Ramaphosa government, have continued to visit on their fellow blacks, the Nigerian government has again failed to rise up to the occasion and speak out or act decisively for our suffering brothers and sisters in the so-called Rainbow nation.
How on earth can an immigrant legally invest millions of dollars in an economy only for a group of scoundrels with tacit support of the government to now ask them to forfeit their businesses and leave?
For how long can Africa remain the centrepiece of Nigeria foreign relations policymaking when even regional neighbours treat us with total disdain and disrespect? What manner of giants are we that can be trampled upon by mere ants? For how long can these ungrateful South Africans continue to disrespect us and kill our nationals without consequences? Are the South Africans just taking advantage of the fact that even we do not place any premium on the lives of our people to also kill our citizens? Do our leaders not feel the pain of Nigerians in South African?
If we can not end insurgency and kidnappings in our country, does that explain why we stand by and watch Ghanaians, South Africans, and others humiliate, assault and take the lives of Nigerians as they wish?
This is not by any means saying that those Nigerians or other immigrants who violate and break the laws of their host nations should not be punished, but when extrajudicial means is employed, that is unacceptable and condemnable.
This act is inconsistent with South Africa’s avowed foreign policy thrust of primary focus on law, diplomacy, and moral positioning and its pretentious pursuit of global South leadership and human rights advocacy.
Ramaphosa pretends to be interested in Israeli activities in the Middle East but does not see anything wrong with the inhuman, unjust, and murderous conduct of South Africans against black immigrants in his own country. He stands accused of Afghanistanism. He is complicit and must be held accountable.
If Ramaphosa remains indifferent with the fate of immigrants in his country, the least we can do as a nation is to call him out and impose some measure of sanctions in a tit for tat, if only to bring him back to his senses.
Even the ever disappointing Senate led by Godwill Akpabio could not do anything in spite of Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s open condemnation of the South Africans.
Ramaphosa half-heartedly advised groups “taking laws into their own hands.” He warned foreigners against violating the laws of the land, just as he also said concerns over illegal migration are valid, but only authorised officials can act.
He tried to frame the violence as isolated criminal acts, not state policy, yet there haven’t been any high-profile arrests or prosecutions reported.
In spite of South Africa engaging with Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, and Mozambique to de-escalate after repatriations began, the situation has continued to escalate.
AU and ECOWAS have remained silent and have not deemed it right to mediate yet.
No compensation or formal apology to affected countries. That is how hypocritical Ramaphosa’s South Africa has been towards a continent that wasted both human and material resources to free them from the shackles of apartheid.
Ghanaians are now better treated because of the threat of retaliation of the government in Ghana as well as the continued protests by the people.
What is Nigeria waiting for?
So far, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe have repatriated citizens from South Africa.
The first group of Nigerians arrived in Lagos last Thursday. A total of 268 returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 10:30 a.m. aboard an Air Peace flight.
What becomes the fate of those who legitimately owned businesses that have been vandalised and whimsically taken over by these locals? What happens to those killed in that country? What is the nature of the discussions held between these countries and the South African government? Does it include compensations? Should South Africans still own businesses here while their country remains hostile to our citizens?
This must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet. South Africa must not be allowed to get away with this. If they get away with it, then be sure that it will happen again soon.
