Xenophobia and South Africa’s Ingratitude

The recurring decimal of premeditated brutalisation of Nigerians by South Africans in their country has become a handshake beyond the elbow, calling for a vicious wrestling combat. That, in itself, is a most unfortunate development. What with Nigeria’s famed Big Brother role in the African continental politics and economy? What about spearheading the struggle to free the country from the iron-grip of the blood-letting and asphyxiating Apartheid policy that claimed some 21,000 innocent lives, going by statistics from International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO)?

It therefore smirks of gross ingratitude, quite antithetical to the African union Charter and the much-cherished African traditional ethos of hospitality that Nigerians should be at the receiving end of the transferred aggression of the same South Africans! According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Ikechukwu Anyene, President, Nigeria Union, in a telephone call from Pretoria confirmed attacks on members and looting of Nigerian-owned businesses in Pretoria West on Saturday.

In his words: “As we speak, five buildings with Nigerian businesses, including a church have been looted and burned by South Africans. One of the buildings is a mechanic garage with 28 cars under repairs, with other vital documents, were burned during the attack. The attack in Pretoria West is purely xenophobic and criminal because they looted the shops and homes before burning them. Also, the pastor of the church was wounded and is in the hospital receiving treatment.” He said that the union had reported the incident to the Nigeria Mission and South African police.

This statement has since been confirmed by Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs. In spite of urging Nigerians in South Africa to exercise caution and calling on the host government to institute measures to protect them, there are reports of series of threats to the lives and property of Nigerians living in that country. Yet this is not the first, second or third of such attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.

Equally important is that of Erewa reminding the South African government that further xenophobic killing and maiming of Nigerians would have dire consequences. And honestly so. Its business relations with Nigeria is grossly skewed in its favour. For instance, as at March, 2016 when its President, Jacob Zuma addressed the joint session of the National Assembly he disclosed that South Africans own some 120 companies here in Nigeria. Notable amongst these are its telecommunications giant, MTN, the DSTV brand, Shoprite, Food Concept Plc and Retail clothing line, PEP store. Most are thriving, with huge profits made repatriated back home. What about the recent irony of the infamous shooting of ‘Big Brother Nigeria’ there in South Africa! A disturbing feature of the inequitable relationship between the two countries is what Mrs. Rita Orji, the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs has rightly tagged ‘conspiracy of silence’. She noted that while South African businesses here enjoy maximum protection the same cannot be said of ours there. Enough of such arrant nonsense, that one would express greater love for another, other than himself. The holy books never taught us so. The despicable inhuman treatment meted out to Nigerians in some countries, especially Malaysia, Indonesia and Libya leaves much to be desired. About 171 Nigerians have just been deported from Libya where they were forced to drink their own urine!

To find lasting solutions to the avoidable loss of lives of Nigerians in South Africa, we should take a look at the root causes. A report by the Human Sciences Research Council identified four broad causes for the violence. Ayo Oyoze Baje, ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk

Most pairings in politics are meant to balance the ticket. In many cases, the two persons are like-minded, have a harmonised action plan and work in the same direction. Nonetheless, these two could also be at variance on certain issues, have conflicting views of certain phenomena and maybe sometimes disagree on other things.

Nigerians are used to sit-tight leaders at all levels that see political positions as personal, abhor delegating authorities, see their deputies as rivals and a threat; leaders that often have disdain for their second-in-command; ones that will never support their deputies in anything, let alone transfer power to them to act in their absence. Nigeria has witnessed numerous cases of leaders and their assistants turning against one another. Some have even turned out to become sworn enemies- The Obasanjo/ Atiku feud is a good example.

But President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo have re-established the ideal of one presidency and it is working well for the good of the country and democracy. Prior to the president’s absence and during his absence, the two have redefined how we view the president vis-a-vis the vice-president. They have created an atmosphere of progressive political synergy never seen in Aso Rock Villa in recent times.

The relationship between President Buhari and Osinbajo looked promising since the campaign days. Both have unique chemistry. Civility of the two distinguished men has kept the Buhari/Osinbajo relationship close, warm and friendly. Buhari and Osinbajo see each other as brothers. The president has immense respect for the vice-president, while the vice-president doggedly supports the president.

The Buhari/Osinbajo presidency is one. It is sheer illiteracy to think that Osinbajo as acting president takes unilateral decisions without discussing with President Buhari.

So far, so excellent is Osinbajo’s performance. He has performed according to the expectations of most Nigerians and in line with tenets of President Buhari. Acting President Osinbajo in his capacity has been a good representative of the Buhari school. He has shown that he has not been a figure-head vice-president, rather an astute complementing figure to President Buhari’s drive to take Nigeria to greater heights.

A few politicians are not happy with the way the acting president Osinbajo is running the affairs of the nation according to President Buhari’s expectations. These politicians were those that campaigned against Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 just for personal gains. Their expectations from the Muhammadu Buhari government have not materialised. These politicians have forgotten that the only item that kept and is keeping Buhari ‘afloat’ is the ordinary man in the street. If not for the ordinary-man’s belief in Buhari, is there a political leader in Nigeria that can take some of the stringent decisions Buhari took and most Nigerians will still not spill into the streets?

So far, Osinbajo has inaugurated five commissioners of the National Population Commission, he has constituted the Presidential Task Force on Food Security with the mandate to reduce prices of food items in the country. Osinbajo declared open the Agenda for Consultative Forum on Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. He sent the name of Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation as substantive CJN. The acting president has also inaugurated the National Road Safety Advisory Council which he heads. He has presided over a meeting of the National Economic Council on February 16. Zayyad I. Muhammad, Jimeta, Adamawa State