Xenophobic Attacks : Gbajabiamila Leads Reps To South Africa

In response to the latest wave of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, the House of Representatives on Tuesday raised a team to be led by House Leader, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila to interface with the South African parliament and other authorities in the country.

The 6-man team will also to engage the Nigerian community in South Africa during the trip.

Other members of the team named by deputy speaker, Yusuff Lasun on Tuesday are Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Relations, Ms. Nnena Ukeje (PDP, Abia); Mr. Sadiq Ibrahim (APC, Adamawa); Mr. Henry Nwawuba (PDP, Imo); Mr. Nasiru Zango-Daura (APC, Katsina) and Mr. Shehu Aliyu-Musa (APC, Bauchi).

Punch reports that Gbajabiamila’s team will head to South Africa in the coming days with some officials of the ministry of foreign affairs.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly, on Tuesday, accused the federal government of failing to take adequate steps to prevent continued xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim, appeared before the Senate on Tuesday to brief the lawmakers on the federal government’s reaction to the recent attacks.

Chairman of the senate committee on foreign affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu while reacting to the minister’s update said it was time for Nigeria to impose sanctions on South Africa, adding that Nigeria should also consider retaliatory moves against South Africa.

“We have to speak on behalf of Nigerians that what we discussed today is not what Nigerians are expecting from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nigerians will want to hear from the ministry that ‘we have been to South Africa’, not that ‘we have invited the (South African) High Commissioner here to come and tell stories’.

“We want to hear from the ministry that the acting (Nigerian) High Commissioner (to South Africa) has actually invited Nigerians to give them solace because, tomorrow, nobody knows what is going to happen again,” she said.

It will be recalled that South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday dismissed the recent attacks as mere crimes, arguing that South Africans were not xenophobic.