By Uche Mbah
The Macabre dance of blood going on in South Africa has sparked outrage among Nigerians, particularly as the Federal seems helpless in handling the unfortunate situation.
Viral videos of horrific dimensions are let loose on an angry nation’s psyche detailing gory episodes of Xenophobia served on the table of Apartheid’s former enclave.Up until Monday, the Presidency has not summoned the South African Ambassador for consultations. This has emboldened the Xenophobes that Nigeria is weak and can do nothing.
Thabang Mokoena, a South African Xenophobe, twitted this much in the heat of the attacks.
“Tomorrow we F***ing them up again, and your Government won’t do s**t”, he said in answer to a Nigerian complaining of the killings.
So far, over 300 foreigners have been killed in the worst attack since Xenophobia started in South africa. Foreign owned businesses are looted with the South african Police standing by and sometimes lending a helping hand to the looters.
“How can a city in South Africa be 80% foreigners?”, Bongani Mic, A Dehaelputy Minister of Police chief of South Africa said in defense of the killings.
This appears to give an official stamp on the xenophobia.
President Muhammadu Buhari, during his recent visit to Japan, was reported by his aids to have confronted his South African Counterpart demanding explanations for the killings, and pledged to visit South Africa in future to discuss the issue. But it appears the meeting was the ginger for the current attacks.
“Nigerians are being killed in south Africa and Buhari is laughing with their President”, a blogger angrily wrote.
Even the Minister of Foreign Affairs appears to too diplomatically aloof for a case that, according to critics of the government, ought to elicit drastic reactions to the Nigerian government. He only sent a tweet saying that Nigeria will “take definitive action” on the case.
He has only just summoned the South African Ambassador to explain the attacks.
But in Aso Rock, it appears to be business as usual, sending wrong signals on how the government value the life of its citizens. Miyetti Allah has been threatening the South east governors, saying they have no right to stop their nomadic life with their cows over the geopolitical zone.
The South east Governor’s forum had risen from a meeting saying that no herdsmen should bear any form of arms in the geopolitical zone, stating that they are partnering with the military to do Air patrol over the zone with a view to identifying the culprints, a move that Miyetti Allah frowns at.
“Nigerians are being killed in South Africa but they can’t come home because those at home are also being killed. Pathetic!”, said lere Olayinka, spokesperson to former governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose.
Many on social media are advocating boycot of south African Interests at the least, and attacks on such interests as a the other extreme.
South Africa has substantial investments in Nigeria, including the telecom Giant MTN and Shop-right chain of stores.
