Obasanjo Shames Zuma: If I Were President In South Africa, Xenophobia Would Not Have Arisen

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo shares his views on recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, on Saturday, April 25, 2015.

Former Nigerian President had spoken at the Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas, USA, where he gave a special lecture on the political and economic situation in Nigeria, and Africa as a whole.

The president said: “The xenophobia incidents in South Africa are really unfortunate. If I were president Zuma in South Africa, the issue of xenophobia would not have arisen. First, I would condemn the action in very strong language. Secondly, those who have made comment that seem to be glorifying the very bad act, no matter how close they have been to me, I would publicly castigate them.

Thirdly, I would make an example of a few of those who committed the act. And I mean that. Look, South Africa is one of the most developed country in Africa, and South Africa will continue to be one of the leading or leaders of Africa as a country. If any country which is a leader or one of the leaders of Africa cannot accommodate other African’s on their soil, then they don’t deserve to be leaders.”

in April 2015, there was an upsurge in xenophobic attacks throughout the country. Armed locals attacked immigrants in general, including Pakistani and Bangladeshi shopkeepers. Nigerians are said to have lost about N84 million to the incident on 21 April which left seven foreigners dead and many others displaced. More than 300 people were arrested.

African countries whose citizens including those from Nigeria are victims of the mindless scourge have risen to protect and repatriate their nationals, while continuimg to condemn the act in strong terms. On 23 April several thousand demonstrators marched through central Johannesburg to protest against a spate of deadly attacks on immigrants. They sang songs denouncing xenophobia and carried banners that read “We are all Africans” as migrant workers crowded balconies, shouting their support.

In Nigeria a handful of members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) staged a peaceful protest at the South African embassy in Lagos. Besides, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) members organised a demonstration at the South African Embassy in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja.

Meanwhile South Africa has deployed soldiers to reinstate peace in the city of Johannesburg, and ultimately stop the attacks on immigrants."