‘Forgive South Africans,’ Ambassadors beg Nigerians

monjola sotubo

April 29, 2015 4:44 PM

The diplomats made the plea on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, while appearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Nigerians protest against xenophobic attacks in front of SA High Commission

Nigeria’s envoys to South Africa, Uche Ajulu- Okeke, and Martin Cobham have pleaded with Nigerians to forgive South Africans for the recent xenophobic attacks against foreigners in the latter country.

Similar please were also made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

“As of now, the situation has not warranted such drastic actions like recalling our envoys in the South African country. We are big brothers of Africa. We cannot retaliate by recalling our envoys because it will send wrong signals which could affect their economy. Even countries whose citizens were killed and got their shops looted, had not taken such action,” Wali said.

“On the Zulu king, the South African Human Rights Commission is already investigating his roles, hence we need to wait for the outcome of the investigation so that we don’t assume holier than thou status. What we need to do now is to make sure that there is support from our government to make sure that Nigerians affected are well taken care of,” he added.

The Senate had earlier urged the Federal Government to recall its ambassadors to SA and report Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Nigeria summoned its envoys back to the country on Saturday, April 25, 2015.

Obanikoro however denied reports that the government had recalled the diplomats saying instead that they had only been invited back for consultations over the attacks.

monjola sotubo