Tension is heightening in Lagos as the
Odua People’s Congress has given the South
African government 48 hours to stop
the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa or face its wrath.
The founder of the OPC, Dr. Fredrick
Fasehun, said this during a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday.
Fasehun reminded South Africa that
it had several business interests in Nigeria.
He said, “While the Nigerian
government and the rest of the world seek a diplomatic solution to this season
of madness, the OPC hereby warns that South Africa must end this rash of
xenophobia within 48 hours. These ill-advised attacks are capable of bringing
out the beast in the best of men. And we will not watch as fellow Nigerians are
wantonly killed in cold blood.
“Enough is enough. South Africans
must know that nobody has a monopoly of violence. They must halt the killings,
the maiming and the looting of foreigners’ shops in their country. These
incidents of xenophobia will provoke reprisals against South Africans and their
interests in other lands.
“Thus, beginning with the
belligerent Zulu King, all South Africans involved in these attacks should be
arrested immediately and prosecuted for crimes against humanity.”
When asked to specify what exactly
the OPC would do if the South African government failed to heed to its demand,
Fasehun said, “South Africa has many business interests in Nigeria but of
course, you do not expect me to reveal what we will do until the time is
right.”
Fasehun said it was unfortunate that
South Africans were hostile to Nigerians despite the fact that Nigeria spent
over $60bn to tackle apartheid and oppression in the country.
While displaying photographs of
foreigners who were lynched in South Africa, Fasehun said the irony was that
many of those being attacked had contributed to the economic growth of South
Africa.
He said, “These attacks are a mark
of ingratitude against Nigeria, which is estimated to have spent over $60bn on
the South Africa’s struggle to break the chains of apartheid and secure
independence.”
Xenophobia creates tension in Lagos as OPC threatens South Africa
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
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