Owing to the increasing xenophobic attacks on foreigners including Nigerians in South Africa, the Nigerian House of Representative has vowed to invoke a law to frustrate South Africa’s interest in Nigeria.
Photo: South African President, Jacob Zuma and Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini
The lawmakers also asked President Jonathan to immediately recall Nigeria’s envoy to South Africa.
The Reps moves was sequel to a motion promoted by Chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, titled: ‘Xenophobic Attacks on Africans in South Africa’.
In her submission, the Lagos lawmaker said, “The recent attacks which have left many dead, businesses and shops vandalised, many beaten up mercilessly, was incited by a statement allegedly made by South African Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who told African migrants to go home as they were no longer welcome in South Africa.
“Son of President Zuma, Edward, allegedly echoed the same statement which ignited a long debate and worse still immediate backlash of violent reactions among the Zulus in Kwazulu, who unleashed terror on foreigners including Nigerians in J’bourg, Durban and Pretoria.
“They steal, break into their homes, businesses, take their properties, killing them, 5 have been killed with hundreds stranded and unable to return.
“Recall that a similar incident happened in January this year in which 4 people died during the looting of shops owned by foreigners and also a similar incident occurred in 2002 with about 60 African migrants killed including Zimbabweans , Mozambiqueans, Congolese and Malawians.’’
At this point, Friday Itulah, PDP, Edo, sought for an amendment to reflect that”the Nigerian ambassador to South Africa should be recalled immediately for further consultations and we should sever all diplomatic ties with the troubled country.”
Leo Ogor, PDP Isoko federal constituency also spoke in the same vein, commending the “efforts of the sponsor of the motion which to me is timely and needed to be treated with urgency.”
In his contribution, Ahmed Datti, APC, Kaduna, said: “I was surprised that one of their major companies here has increased tariff yet they are killing people in their country.
“We should invoke all our relevant laws to ensure that it is no longer business as usual for their business concerns in Nigeria.”
When the presiding officer, Aminu Tambuwal put the proposed amendment to vote, referring to the first leg as the recall of the envoy, the ayes had it.
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