Society Well-being Advocates of Nigeria, SWAN, had reacted to the recent happenings in South Africa, stressing that; “there is no justification for what is going on in South Africa whether it is happening to the whites or to the blacks.”
Comr. Eze Onyebuchi Chukwu, the DG of SWAN, said, they are not oblivious of the fact that the government of Nigeria has done nothing to help the citizens but they can’t take all the blame for the carnage going on in South Africa.
“Of course, it’s no news that our government here in Nigeria has not given us a favourable and fertile environment to thrive but we cannot totally blame our government for what is happening to Nigerians in South Africa. This is because citizens of highly industrious nations like US and China also travel to other countries for greener pastures including Nigeria.
“Therefore, the xenophobic attacks in South Africa remains condemned and unacceptable.”
In his advice, the DG urged the federal, state and local governments of Nigeria to key into the free skills acquisition and empowerment of the youths and unemployed in Nigeria to eliminate mass movement from Nigeria to other countries looking for anything to do including crime.
This, he said will also end criminality in Nigeria. He also implore the Nigerian government to take a strong stand against any country that has no respect for the life and property of her citizens and also to investigate the accusations that some of our citizens in South Africa are into illegalities and collaborate with the government of their host country to track down any Nigerian that is bringing dishonour to Nigeria, home or abroad.
Also lending her voice to the ugly situation, Comr. Mrs. Elizabeth Idris in her advice said, “Nigerians should first value themselves. Nigerians have condemned their citizens and their country, calling ourselves corrupt, thieves, lazy, liars, cheat, cheap, insignificant and so much worse.
“It didn’t start now. We sold our fellow brothers into slavery, we tell foreigners to produce sub-standard products for us, knowing clearly that our brothers may die as a result of the product, indicating that the life of Nigerians is worth nothing to us. We connive with foreigners to defraud our country. Loot our treasury and stash the cash in foreign banks. All these and much more has taught the world to treat us the way we treat ourselves. We don’t love nor Care about ourselves. We as Africans and Nigerians must grow past the ideology of white supremacy and colonial inferiority complex. We place very little or no value on ourselves and our African brothers.
“South Africa is biting the fingers that fed it. We still remember how Nigeria played the big brother role during south Africa`s woes in apartheid. Both countries have their citizens living and working in both countries.
“There are policies, rules and regulations on how nations relate with each other. South Africans should have resorted to more civil means of forwarding any grievances than taking the lives of fellow Africans who once stood by them. Dialogue is the best way to agree. Killing someone for his hard work and success is barbaric, primitive, senseless and a crime against humanity. It happened months ago but our government didn’t take action. Because of ethnic and religious sentiments.
“The world is watching and seeing our weaknesses. We need an attitudinal change. Nigerians must – respect, love, value one another and their country. We must stop being self-centred and be our brothers keepers. We must UNITE LEST WE FALL!
“The government should RISE UP TO IT’S RESPONSIBILITIES.
It’s time to WALK THE TALK..” she concluded.
