The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign for allegedly failing to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians, urging the federal government to sever diplomatic relations with South Africa.
In a statement by its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochiyere, CUPP lamented that the “Buhari administration has yet again woefully failed in protecting the lives of Nigerian citizens living abroad particularly in South Africa where xenophobic killings and looting of their businesses have gone without any reciprocal diplomatic actions from the government.
“President Buhari on the sidelines of TICAD 2019 in Yokohama Japan met with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa purportedly on the issue of the killings but refused to address the media on the outcome of the meeting.
“He thereby failed to reassure Nigerians on the actions his government was taking or will take and also failed to use that opportunity to send to South Africans directly a stern message on the dire consequences of their wanton killing of hard working Nigerians. “Nigerians have with these latest happenings come to the conclusion that President Buhari’s government has outlived its essence which is the protection of life and property of citizens both at home and abroad.”
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on the National Assembly to immediately convene an emergency session to address the plight of Nigerians in South Africa. It condemned what it called the high insensitivity of the Buhari presidency towards Nigerians in South Africa particularly in the face of the rising wave of attacks and Killings.
In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said: “The National Assembly is called upon to immediately engage the South African authorities for explanations on the attacks on our compatriots and seek options to address the situation in the interest of all.” The party described as highly condemnable the killing of innocent Nigerians and other nationals in the mindless violent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
“Our party is extremely shocked by allegations that officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration at the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa locked the gates against our compatriots in the face of bloody attacks, leaving them to the cruelty of their assailants. “Indeed, our citizens have totally lost hope of any forceful intervention by the Buhari presidency, as it has not shown any commitment towards defending Nigerians in the face of unjust attacks, harassments and even murder both at home and abroad.“
Back home, the Buhari presidency has also not demonstrated any capacity or commitment towards securing our nation, a situation that has emboldened insurgents, kidnappers, marauders and bandits in their mindless pillaging of our citizens in various parts of the country. ”
The PDP statement came amid reports that Ambassador Kabiru Bala, Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa shut its door against Nigerians who came to register their grievances over xenophobic attack in that country. The high commissioner debunked the media reports that the mission in Pretoria was attacked by Nigerians in South Africa because it did not give them attention.
Bala, who said the story was appalling and wicked, added: “the two missions were never closed. Two groups of Nigerians came to the high commission last week Thursday. They were received by the Acting High Commissioner while I was away. They came around 9 p.m. and were received and assured of safety and security. So it was not true that they were turned back. Let those who came and were either turned back or found the embassy closed give specific date and time.”
He said that the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg had offered immense assistance to the affected Nigerians in the crisis. Bala said that the mission had started to compile a list of Nigerians affected for engagement with the South African government and other stakeholders. According to him, all Nigerian victims of the current attacks are requested to come forward to report their situation to the High Commission and the Consulate.
Ben Okoli, the President of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), who corroborated the high commissioner claim, stressed that the report was not true. “The mission’s gate has never been shut against Nigerians; it has always kept its door open. According to him, they were received and invited by the minister of consular affairs who went as far as organising food for them and drinks to make sure that they are comfortable.
“So they were attended to and nobody would say that the gate was shut against them. “The mission allowed them even though they came in by forced and destroyed part of the entrance, the mission provided food for them and gave them some drinks and that is it. “And, they were encouraged to go and calculate their losses and bring back the report through the organisation. So, we are actually collaborating with people, who have lost their property. “We are collecting inventories of what our people have lost which I will make available to the high commissioner in due time,” Okoli said.
