Xenophobia: FG threatens AU action against South Africa

By Dickson Omobola

The Federal Government announced on Thursday that it is considering bringing the repeated xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa to the African Union in order to seek a lasting solution.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye said that Africa as a continent must recognise the need to do more to protect the lives and property of residents in South Africa.

Speaking on Prime Time, an Arise TV programme, Enikanolaiye criticised the recurring attacks on other African nationals, saying they undermine the continent’s solidarity and brotherhood.

He said: “When you have thug leaders literally encouraging violence against other nationalities, that is totally unacceptable. We will be reminding them of their responsibility in this regard. We are going to do this at all levels of government, at our own level, at our level of officials, at the level of even Mr President, to be sure that Nigerians are not subjected to this kind of harassment going forward. We have also indicated that going forward to prevent this, we may have to escalate it to the African Union and get a more continental response to this, which is becoming an African challenge.”

“You cannot lay claim to African leadership when you take steps that undermine the solidarity and brotherhood of the continent of Africa. This is something Nigeria would not do. So, we are asking Africa to please see the need to do more to protect life and property of not just their own nationals, but also Nigerians and the rest of Africans that are residents in South Africa.”

Meanwhile, Abike Dabiri‑Erewa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation, saying enough was enough.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels TV programme, she said it was sad that such a thing was happening on the continent of Africa.

She said: “It is terrible, disappointing and painful. But honestly, enough is enough. Enough really has to be enough. Their government is looking the other way, and I think that is the sad part because security is not arresting anybody.”

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