Xenophobia hub: Nigeria’s federal lawmaker lauds Buhari’s moves to end attack

NIGERIA

A Nigerian federal lawmaker and Chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yusuf Yakub, has commended President Mohammadu Buhari’s move to end the xenophobic attacks on foreigners especially Nigerians living in South Africa.

Yakub also commend the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, for condemning the attack but urge him to take more forceful steps in halting the situation and bringing the perpetrators to book.

The lawmaker who spoke in a press briefing in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, said the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama is also making high level consultations aimed at taking necessary actions to ensure that the situation is addressed once and for all.

“We are happy to announce that our dear President has also risen to the demand of duty by dispatching an envoy that is expected to arrive in South Africa by tomorrow, Thursday.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs has also, following the directive of Mr. President, summoned the South African Ambassador to Nigeria to explain the situation. You must have also heard that President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly condemned the ongoing attacks and has made a number of commitments to achieving peace.

“We, however, call on Ramaphosa to go beyond that to demonstrate stronger leadership and bring all the perpetrators of the orgies of violence to book”.

Yakub who is representing Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency of Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria, also said the growing xenophobic attacks on innocent and law-abiding Nigerians in some parts of the Republic of South Africa, especially, Jamestown area of the commercial city of Johannesburg, got escalated since August 29, 2019, adding that there were similar attacks and killings during the tenure of former President Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

“This is why we insist that these barbaric attacks have become one too many in recent years and, therefore, stand condemnable by all men and countries of goodwill. We reiterate our call on other nations of the world to join us and raise their voice against this senseless action of humans against their kind.

“Unverified statistics has put the number of Nigerians killed in the last three years in the Republic of South Africa at an unacceptable figure. It is our position that no Nigerian soul should again be lost in that country in the manner that we have witnessed in the last three years.

“There is no form of jungle justice for any crime or perceived wrong that is currently acceptable anywhere in the entire globe. Much as we once in a while have cases of a few Nigerians who are found on the wrong side of the law, it can never be taken as an excuse to begin a sudden onslaught against other law-abiding ones and their property.

“Against any one unlawful Nigerian anywhere in the world, realities have shown that there are thousands of other hard working ones who are genuine in what they are doing and have contributed to the development of the people and the economies of the places in which they have found themselves”.

Speaking further, the House Committee Chairman said the National Assembly upon resumption will as a matter of urgency hold emergency sections to address the unfortunate challenges that has befalling Nigerians in South Africa.

“As a Committee of the House of Representatives, we have also followed the feelings and concerns of many Nigerians on the issue of the ongoing attacks against our citizens in South Africa. There are those who, out of genuine concern and in appreciation of the fact that the Parliament remains the broadest democratic representative of our people, have called for our intervention through the resumption of the Parliament and the holding of emergency sessions on the debacle in South Africa.

“In the face of current challenges, such calls are understandable and, in fact, are not unusual. But, while not seeking to hold forte for the House and, indeed, the entire National Assembly itself, we wish to inform our dear countrymen and women that, as a Committee of the House, whatever we have done or are doing with regards to this matter is with the total knowledge and express support of the leadership of the House led by Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

“Already, there is a handful of reactions and actions from Senators and Members which have emanated from the ongoing problems in South Africa. As touchy as this case is, we are imploring Nigerians to have confidence in what the Executive arm is doing at the moment until Parliament resumes on September 17th, 2019”.