ABUJA—The House of Representatives yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to recall Nigeria’s envoy to South Africa over xenophobic attacks on foreigners.
The lawmakers also vowed to invoke relevant business laws to frustrate South African concerns in Nigeria.
However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, said yesterday that Nigeria was closely monitoring the attacks on foreigners in South Africa and would take appropriate measures if the lives of Nigerians were at risk.
The Reps’ move was sequel to a motion promoted by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, APC, Lagos, entitled: ‘Xenophobic Attacks on Africans in South Africa’.
In her submission, the Lagos lawmaker argued that the House was disturbed at the constant, unwarranted Zenophobic attacks against African migrants in South Africa, where Africans in South Africa were being slaughtered like animals.

She said: “The recent attacks which have left many dead, businesses and shops vandalised, many beaten up mercilessly, was incited by a statement allegedly made by South African Zulu King, Goodwill. Zwelithini, who told African migrants to go home as they were no longer welcome in South Africa.
“Son of President Zuma, Edward, allegedly echoed the same statement which ignited a long debate and worse still immediate backlash of violent reactions among the Zulus in Kwazulu, who unleashed terror on foreigners including Nigerians in J’bourg, Durban and Pretoria.
“They steal, break into their homes, businesses, take their properties, killing them, 5 have been killed with hundreds stranded and unable to return.
“Recall that a similar incident happened in January this year in which 4 people died during the looting of shops owned by foreigners and also a similar incident occurred in 2002 with about 60 African migrants killed including Zimbabweans , Mozambiqueans, Congolese and Malawians.’’
At this point, Friday Itulah, PDP, Edo, sought for an amendment to reflect that”the Nigerian ambassador to South Africa should be recalled immediately for further consultations and we should sever all diplomatic ties with the troubled country.”
Leo Ogor, PDP Isoko federal constituency also spoke in the same vein, commending the “efforts of the sponsor of the motion which to me is timely and needed to be treated with urgency.”
In his contribution, Ahmed Datti, APC, Kaduna, said: “I was surprised that one of their major companies here has increased tariff yet they are killing people in their country.
“We should invoke all our relevant laws to ensure that it is no longer business as usual for their business concerns in Nigeria.”
When the presiding officer, Aminu Tambuwal put the proposed amendment to vote, referring to the first leg as the recall of the envoy, the ays had it.
The second amendment seeking an outright severing diplomatic ties with SA was killed by the lawmakers.
Rounding off, Dabiri-Erewa said Nigeria frowned on the attacks and would no longer tolerate the killing of its nationals in South Africa.
She asked President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately convey this to President Zuma as a matter of urgency.
The lawmakers also appealed to the federal government to apply the diplomatic principle of reciprocity in dealing with South Africa, adding that if South Africa continued to frustrate Nigeria businesses, Nigeria must also do the same to South Africa businesses in the country.
When the speaker finally put the debate to a voice, the ays carried the day.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, has said Nigeria was closely monitoring the attacks on foreigners in South Africa and would take appropriate measures if the lives of Nigerians were at risk.
Addressing State House correspondents after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, Ambassador Wali said the attacks were not targeted at Nigerians only but foreigners, adding that the Nigerian Mission in Pretoria had taken steps to ensure that the lives and properties of Nigerians were protected.
According to the Minister, information at his disposal indicates that no Nigerian has so far been affected by the attacks.
“With the discussions I have been having with Nigeria’s Head of Mission in Pretoria, no Nigerian has so far been affected. They informed me that they have called the Nigerian community and addressed them and told them to close their shops, stay at home and keep out of trouble and obey the laws of South Africa.
“They have also confirmed that the South African authorities have moved in to take actions that would forestall any further disturbance in South Africa.
“If it gets worse it is the duty of our country to make sure our people are brought back, and we are taking that duty serious.
“We are not prepared to allow any of our nationals to be subjected to such inhuman treatment,” he said.
He defended the stance of government saying that Nigerians were not being targeted in the orgy of violence that has so far gripped the country.
“We are not being reactionary because this is happening to all foreigners, not Nigerians alone. We are monitoring the situation and will take action according to the situation that develops,” he said.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/xenophobia-reps-vow-to-invoke-laws-to-frustrate-safrican-interests/

S'Africans better start taking Nigeria serious.

Rep don get mouth since they have the back-up of "Boko-Haram"

Glad they are standing for Nigerians in South Africa.

When the same niagra pipu in SA doesn't want to come home nkoh ? Wetin make dem come do in dis oven/where peeps will scale fence for ghost job?They shud stay there/remain indoor until situation get better biko

Hmmm

Talk is cheap!

And I believe people who are paid to talk per sitting will only like to continue talking; no action.

He be like say he no won better for all this Rep sha... I think they don't know what us next for them to do ... Is better they keep on working on their hand over Note

This SA people self

Many countries have taken us for a ride for too long.

Any attack on Nigerians in that country should not be taken with kid gloves...

they will learn to respect other countries, we are not the only ones taking their jobs, they also come

here and take our top jobs in construction, exploration etc.

they should stop killing other blacks cos of the menial jobs they are even given them self, nonsense!!!!!

MTCHEWWWWWWWWW

Fućking lazy bufoons who would blame their misfortunes in life on everybody else but themselves. Killing fellow black Africans who stood by you in your time of dire need,now they're no longer needed. These South Africans are just pathetic..really sad.

Most South Africans are cowards and lazy. Only lazy people cry foul play when real men are working and the only excuse is strangers deny them jobs in their country.

Again, only cowards would concede defeat without challenge in terms of job earnings and result to violence.

Our legislators can only make noise from a far. Wish they can truly help the matter more than their speechess.

As they plan to frustrate SA businesses, hope they provide adequate opportunities for employment of the of the people that are sure to lose their jobs upon such action.

Impulsive thieves.

SLIDEwaxie:
Talk is cheap!

And I believe people who are paid to talk per sitting will only like to continue talking; no action.

Our reps are not like that sir. They talk and take actions, you can't take that away from them. Have you not seen videos of fights and mortal kombat amongst them? which action pass that one?

solution is very simple but Jonathan as usual doesn't hv the guts to do it. Nigerians are supposed to b treated like royalty over there.
simply,send dstv, mtn and stanbic packing and they will come back to their senses

Are u kidding me? Is always very easyto start a fight no reasonable president will ever consider that ur options, it is so undiplomatic infact its the simplest way to cause inter-state war and when such war breaks it will still be people like u that will come here and blame gej. There are many diplomatic way of getting back @ them

yoji:
solution is very simple but Jonathan as usual doesn't hv the guts to do it. Nigerians are supposed to b treated like royalty over there.
simply,send dstv, mtn and stanbic packing and they will come back to their senses

Enough is enough we have taken alot of insults from South Africans it time to show them what we made up of.

Nigerian government should freeze Mtn and dstv's account. Simple