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Xenophobia: Buhari Orders Evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday ordered the immediate evacuation of all Nigerians who are willing to return home from South Africa following the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals.He gave the instruction when he received the report of the Special Envoy to South Africa, Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar, who is the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari had in the wake of the xenophobic attacks by South Africans against foreigners, including Nigerians, sent the NIA boss as his special envoy to South Africa.A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report quoted a statement by the president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, in Abuja yesterday, saying that the special envoy was in Pretoria from September 5 to September 7, 2019. He said that Abubakar conveyed Buhari’s special message to the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The special envoy expressed deep concern of President Buhari and Nigerians about the intermittent violence against Nigerians and their property and business interests in South Africa. He said Buhari stressed the need for the South African government to take visible measures to stop violence against citizens of brotherly African nations.
In his official Twitter page yesterday, Buhari said: “I have received the report from the special envoy I sent to South Africa last week. We will continue to put pressure on the South African government to take concrete and visible measures to stop violence against citizens of other African nations.
“The recurring issue of xenophobia and attacks on African nationals remains very worrying. If nothing is done to stop it, it could negatively affect the image and standing of South Africa as one of the leading countries in Africa. It has to be stopped.“On our own part, let me reiterate that the Nigerian government will continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety of the lives, property and business interests of Nigerians in South Africa, and of South Africans in Nigeria.
“Let me also say that we have made arrangements for the immediate voluntary evacuation of all Nigerians in South Africa who are willing to return home. I have directed the relevant agencies to ensure this is done speedily and efficiently.”On his part, President Ramaphosa had agreed that the violence was most disconcerting and embarrassing. He was quoted as saying that his government completely rejected such acts, which undermine not only the country’s image but also its relations with brotherly African countries.
Ramaphosa promised to do everything possible to protect the rights of every Nigerian and other foreign nationals in the country.Adesina said that the special envoy also interfaced with his South African counterpart, where they reviewed the situation of foreign emigrants in general and Nigerians in particular. “They agreed to work together to find a permanent solution to the root causes of the recurring attacks on Nigerians and their property,” he said.
The Chairman, Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa disclosed that 640 Nigerians in South Africa had registered to return home following the willingness of the Federal Government to evacuate them to safety.She made the disclosure yesterday while fielding questions from journalists after meeting with the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs.
“As I speak with you now, we have 640 Nigerians voluntarily registering to come home, and they would be home in a couple of days. We believe that more will still be coming to register.”According to her, two planes have been secured for the evacuation of Nigerians. Those willing to return but are faced with the challenge of expired documents should not worry as the Federal Government has directed the Nigerian High Commission to provide them with documents that will make them to be air lifted back to Nigeria.
Dabiri-Erewa challenged the South African government to show more commitment to prosecuting the eight policemen connected to the killing of Nigerians in the wake of the xenophobic attacks about a year ago, and another four persons who have been arrested recently.
Meanwhile, a former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, and leaders of the Nigerian community in Cape Town have met to proffer a solution to the recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa.The meeting held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Cape Town, South Africa, comprised Nigerian entrepreneurs, professionals and Mr. Cosmos Echie, the acting President of the Nigerian Community, Western Cape.
In a statement issued after the interactive meeting, the forum preferred to describe the attacks as Afrophobia.“It was unanimously agreed that the crisis is detrimental to the spirit of African renaissance, affirmation of black heritage, progress and development. Afrophobia compromises everything that the recently brokered intra-African trade – Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement — represents and aspires to deliver.”Ramaphosa was asked to apologise to Nigerians and other countries whose citizens were attacked, and the South African government should trigger a series of actions necessary to de-escalate the brewing conflict.
The Guardian
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (NWC) has suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature for one month.
The suspension comes on the heels of the judgement of the Federal High Court On Friday, which stopped the party’s planned national convention.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists in Abuja on Saturday, that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the national working committee, which was held in Abuja.
President Donald Trump of the United States on Friday designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), in response to allegations of widespread persecution and genocide against Christians.
Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that Christianity faces a serious threat in Nigeria.
The US leader also added Nigeria to a State Department watch list.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.
According to the US president, he was placing Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, on a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations the US deems to have engaged in religious freedom violations.
According to the State Department’s website, the list includes China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan, among others.
Trump said he had asked US Representatives Riley Moore and Tom Cole, as well as the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, to look into the matter and report back to him.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Hon. Abubakar Gummi from the House of Representatives after he left the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmaker represented the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the ruling, holding that Gummi’s defection breached the Constitution.
The court said the seat does not belong to any politician but to the political party that sponsored the election.
According to the judgment, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, is barred from recognising Gummi “as a member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.”
The judge also instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission to “conduct a fresh election” for the vacant seat within 30 days.
The case was instituted by the PDP and its Zamfara chairman, who insisted that Gummi’s move to the APC had no legal justification. They argued that there was no division in the PDP to support his defection, as required by Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution.
Gummi, through his counsel, claimed he left the PDP due to internal crises which he said made it “impossible” to serve his constituents effectively. The judge, however, dismissed his arguments and granted all the reliefs requested by the plaintiffs.
Justice Egwuatu, in a firm comment, warned politicians against what he described as reckless party hopping.
“Political prostitution must not be rewarded,” he declared, adding that lawmakers must not transfer votes won on one party’s platform to another party.
The court also ordered Gummi to refund all salaries and allowances received from October 30, 2024, until the date of judgment. He is also barred from earning any further benefits as a member of the House.
Additionally, the judge imposed a N500,000 cost against the defendants in favour of the PDP.
