In order to address the murders and attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili has called for President Bola Tinubu to halt his current foreign trips to France, Kenya, and Rwanda and return to Nigeria.
In a message directed at Tinubu on her X.com account on Monday, Ezekwesili made the demand, calling the President’s choice to travel to three countries in the midst of alleged attacks on Nigerians in South Africa a complete lack of leadership.
She said, “Return Home, Mr President: The Nigerian Government Must Stop Treating the Killing and Attacks on Nigerians in South Africa as Routine Diplomacy.
“Mr President Tinubu, it is a total absence of leadership to set out on a three-nation junket to France, Kenya, and Rwanda while the bodies of our citizens lay slain in South Africa while the rest hide from a raging mob.”
The former minister claimed that the Federal Government’s response, which she described as calling in envoys, sending out advisories, urging Nigerians to maintain composure, and removing certain nationals, was insufficient.
“The recurring killing, harassment, looting and intimidation of Nigerians in South Africa is no longer a matter for routine diplomatic statements,” she said, adding that the attacks had become confirmation that the Nigerian state did not value the lives and dignity of its citizens whether at home or abroad.
Ezekwesili urged the federal government to demand right now that the South African government provide a comprehensive published account of all attacks, injuries, fatalities, destroyed businesses, arrests, initiated prosecutions, compensation claims, and unsolved cases involving Nigerians in that nation.
She warned that anything less would encourage the impunity of those responsible for the killings and further demanded that Nigeria put pressure on the South African government for what she called a time-bound justice framework that explicitly addresses investigation, prosecution, restitution, and public reporting.
She claimed that the ongoing attacks on Nigerians in South Africa dishonoured a common past, citing Nigeria’s involvement in the fight against apartheid.
“Nigeria did not stand aside during apartheid. Through the Southern Africa Relief Fund, ordinary Nigerians gave from their meagre incomes to support the liberation struggle. Nigeria provided financial, diplomatic, and moral leadership to the African National Congress and other movements when it mattered most,” she said.
Additionally, Ezekwesili urged the administration to improve the consular protection system at all Nigerian embassies so that Nigerians living overseas would know how to report threats, obtain emergency aid, and have a clear assurance about what the government would do on their behalf.
She claimed that the ongoing attacks on Nigerians in South Africa dishonoured a common past, citing Nigeria’s involvement in the fight against apartheid.