FG summons S’African High Commissioner over attacks

The Federal Government on Wednesday summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Louis-Mnguni, over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other black Africans. The government also demanded compensation from the South African authorities for the Nigerian victims of the violence by black South Africans. A statement from the Public Communications Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Louis-Mnguni met in Abuja on Wednesday with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro. The statement explained that during the meeting, Obanikoro expressed Nigeria’s concern over the fate of its and other nationals in South Africa. He underscored the fact that since South Africa was a major player on the continent, it should make its nationals to live in peace with citizens of other countries. The minister called on the South African government to “take concrete steps to quell the unrest and bring the culprits involved to book, to serve as a deterrent to others and prevent reoccurrence.” According to the statement, the High Commissioner informed the minister that Pretoria was doing everything possible to address the attacks and prosecute those behind them. He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the manner in which it was handling the crisis. The envoy also disclosed that sensitisation campaigns would be carried out to educate South Africans on the need for them to live in peace with other nationals. As the meeting was going on, the National Assembly and the United Nations flayed the attacks in the former apartheid enclave and called for their immediate end. Like the Executive did, the House of Representatives also sought compensation for the victims and their families. Its Committee on Diaspora Affairs said that compensation would be “a major step in healing the wounds” inflicted on Nigerians and other African migrants. The Chairman of the committee, Abike Dabiri- Erewa, conveyed the House demand when she delivered the resolution of the House to Louis- Mnguni in Abuja. She said it was a “sad development “ that South Africans would kill and destroy the properties of fellow Africans for reasons that were not defensible. Dabiri-Erewa, who led members of the committee to the South African High Commission in Abuja to register the legislature’s unhappiness with the attacks, urged Pretoria to make “determined efforts” to quell the attacks. She said, “Nigeria will not tolerate further killing and harassment of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa. “We have to add that there should be compensation for all those who suffered as a result of these attacks”, she told the envoy. In his response, Louis-Mnguni extended the apologies of his home government to Nigeria. “We are sorry and feel very bad that you, our own people, are affected,” the envoy said. He assured the delegation that his home government was addressing the incident. He stated that in addition to using regular security agencies to contain the situation, President Jacob Zuma had ordered that the armed forces be deployed in the streets to beef up security. Louis-Mnguni informed the committee that Zuma’s government might not focus on payment of compensation as the immediate reaction to the problem. He explained that what was urgent was to restore security to the affected areas and support those who had been displaced. “Our focus now is on saving lives”, he added. But the envoy admitted that the younger generation of South Africans needed to be adequately educated on the sacrifices Nigeria and other African countries made during the liberation struggles in South Africa. He told the committee that he was aware that many Africans died for the sake of South Africa while many governments made their resources available in support of the fight against white supremacist rule. “We are not strong enough on the issue of education. A lot of our youths were born post 1990s and they are not fully aware of the role of Nigeria and other countries in the liberation struggles”, Louis-Mnguni stated. He assured the committee that Pretoria would take urgent steps to correct noticeable shortcomings. Shortly after this, the South African Consul- General in Nigeria, Sam Monaisa, announced a short closure of the consulate in Lagos. Monaisa said in an electronic mail to the South African Business Forum that the closure would remain in force until Thursday (today). Monaisa accused Nigerians of “using the social media to blow an already tense situation in South Africa out of proportion and stoking emotions.” He claimed that this was why Nigerians maintained that their compatriots were being killed daily in South Africa. The Consul-General advised members of SABF to be on the alert and not move around unnecessarily. His Nigerian counterpart in South Africa, Uche Ajulu-Okeke, said in Johannesburg that eight Nigerians had so far indicated interest to return home. Okeke told the News Agency of Nigeria on the telephone that the Nigerian mission was already working with them to facilitate their journey back home. ‘‘I am working with eight Nigerians who have indicated interest to go home. They are presently at the deportation holding facility at Limbola, South Africa,’’ she said. The Consul General said the mission held a meeting with leaders of the Nigerian Union in the nine provinces of South Africa. She added, ‘‘The meeting was successful. Victims of the attacks came with wounds, including machete and gunshot wounds. They narrated how they were attacked and brought pictures. We took note of all that. ‘‘The mission asked all the provincial chairmen of the union to collate all information reported.’’ Okeke said the report would be sent to the Federal Government for further action, adding that the mission and the union had worked out a vigilance defence mechanism to protect Nigerians. She also said the attacks had reduced and that Nigerians were asked to be vigilant in spite of the current development. In the Senate on Wednesday, members urged President Goodluck Jonathan to recall Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador S.S. Yusuf, to protest the attacks. The call followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma – Egba. The senators also called on the Federal Government to drag the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, before the International Criminal Court for his alleged role in the killings. They condemned the actions of the South Africans and asked the Committee on Foreign Affairs to summon the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, to brief them on the situation and measures taken to safeguard the lives of Nigerians . They also urged the government to apply pressure on the South African government to bring the perpetrators of “this evil act” to justice. Like the House, they demanded full compensation for the victims of the attacks and their families. After listening to contributions by some members, Senate President David Mark described what is happening in South Africa as totally unacceptable and unexpected. He said, “My humble suggestion will be that South Africa should not stretch us beyond our elastic limit on this matter. “There is a limit beyond which the nation will not accept what is happening in South Africa. If we go beyond that limit, then Nigeria will be forced to act otherwise. “All of you have very clearly enumerated the assistance we gave to South Africa to liberate them when they had their crises. “Students contributed, we accommodated so many of them; we gave them scholarships. For them to repay us this way, I think it is totally unacceptable and uncalled for; we need to stand up also for all other Africans in South Africa. “The African parliament must take this up seriously; we cannot have a situation where one king gets up and begins to say that people should go away, that is preaching hatred and is unacceptable. “I agree with most of you that we have a responsibility to protect our citizens, in fact that is our first responsibility and we must do that without thinking twice.” Also on Wednesday, the United Nations Secretary- General, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the attacks in South Africa. Ban expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. In a statement from New York, the United States, the UN boss noted the “actions and statements of the President of South Africa and the government to address the violence.” He said that he welcomed the public expressions of some South Africans who have been calling for peaceful coexistence and harmony with foreign nationals. Ban urged that all efforts be made to avert future attacks, “including any incitement leading thereto, and encourages peaceful solutions.” Meanwhile, President Zuma will on Friday meet with Nigerians and other African residents in the country. The meeting is also expected to be attended by nationals of Pakistan and Bangladesh. A statement on the meeting which was made available to journalists reads, “President Zuma will meet with organisations representing foreign nationals. President Zuma will on Friday, meet with leaders of organisations representing foreign nationals resident in the country at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria. “The President will meet with leaders representing foreign nationals from within Africa and also Pakistan and Bangladesh. “The meeting is part of building lasting partnerships with stakeholders in the country to ensure that the shameful attacks on foreign nationals do not recur in the country. “Foreign nationals have for years been successfully integrated into many communities in the country and government thus seeks to gain lessons from these successes.”