APC: The brewing Nigerian Xenophobia

XENOPHOBIA is an abnormal or strange fear or contempt, of that which is foreign,

especially of strangers or people from different countries or cultures. A wave of xenophobia carries with it, racism, isolationism, ethnocentrism, jingoism, racial or ethnic intolerance.

This implies that we have quite a good number of xenophobes in Nigeria. They are in politics, religion, businesses, and represented in all walks of life. It has nothing to do with education, training, exposure, or religion. It is the fear, hatred or contempt that leads the sufferer to destroy, kill or reject anything that is different from what he otherwise is used to. Life and property that is not theirs mean nothing to them, and they abound in Nigeria.

Xenophobia was exposed to the world by South Africa a few weeks ago, but it had been there growing, in their minds. The people who live there who saw it, felt it, but swept it under carpets. After the end of apartheid in 1994, contrary to expectations, the incidence of xenophobia increased, such that between 2000 and May 2008,at least 67 were killed in series of xenophobic riots.

In 2012, an advert by Nandos, a South African Restaurant Chain, displayed anti-immigrant feelings in the diverse nation. At that time, several TV stations including the state-owned South African Broadcasting Corporation refused to run it, according to BBC News; “You know what’s wrong with South Africa? All you foreigners. You must all go back to where you came from,” the advert’s voiceover growls as immigrants disappear in puffs of smoke. The advert ends with an indigenous Khoisan South African carrying hunting equipment saying: “I’m not going anywhere. You *$&@#* found us here.” Yet nothing happened.

Let’s face it, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s anti-immigrant comment that that foreigners need to “pack their bags and leave”, simply echoed what has been resonating in the minds of his people, hence it caused the spark.

Had the King not said it to start the violence, the son of Jacob Zuma, or somebody would have said it to spark the fire, because the people were just waiting for someone in authority to encourage or empower them , which was just what King Godswill did.

If given another chance, they would kill, destroy, and maim visitors, and foreigners, especially Nigerians, because it is a deep seated mental condition. These people thought that with the end of apartheid, they would sit down and jobs, and money, positions of power would bacon on them, to pick and choose what they would do at any price of their fancy. Then came these foreigners, led by Nigerians with their strange competitive spirit in business, and social matters, displacing them and shattering their dreams for ending apartheid. If Jacob Zuma and his ANC is not delivering the dividends of democracy, they should change him and his party as we just did, but criminals must be punished for killing Nigerians, and African foreigners.

South Africans never really liked Nigerians, while Nigeria have always treated their assaults on our people with kid gloves, from the time of the Yellow fever travelling card issue, till now. I understand that Nigerians have lost lives and property valued at over N84million. Nigerian government whether APC or PDP, must see to it that South Africa not only repays for all damages but presents a list of culprits to be prosecuted, and jailed for this heinous crime against our beloved nation.

Nigeria should target South African business interests in Nigeria for some limited deterrent restrictions, in such a way, that they must not sack any Nigerian during the period, of the restrictions. Let the Nigerian Directors in South African businesses tell them to respect Nigerians, and stop daring us.

As for me, I will change my main line from MTN to GLO from henceforth, and from DSTV to any other indigenous cable, just to tell them, that they must not target Nigerians again! After all, GLO is hundred percent Nigerian. ALL Africans must as of right respect Nigerians and Nigerian investments in their nations. This is because we respect them, and will never kill or chase them.

South Africa fought GEJ’s attempt to procure arms to fight Boko Haram through their country, and seized our money. The incoming APC government must bear in mind that any nation that sabotaged our efforts to fight Boko Haram is opposed to our dear Country, not just GEJ or PDP per se.

Back home, Nigeria needs to avoid the South African experience.

A total of over 30,000 persons have been killed since 1980 beginning from the Matatsine riot in Kano, and Kaduna States, targeting non- indigenes, and people of other religion, which was swept that under our carpet of wickedness, without compensations to any.

In Plateau State, alone, over 1000 Christians have been killed by Muslims in the past four years. Hausa Fulani Herdesmen, armed with AK 47 Rifles, have been killing people in Bauchi, Plateau, Benue states and recently in Enugu State. All swept under our carpet.

As if to welcome the President Elect, Boko Haram/Herdesmen have killed more in Benue State, recently, with same story and response. Boko Haram is a northern phenomenon, and have been attempting to invade the South. It must not be under our carpet.

During the last campaigns, things got so bad, that a king of Lagos cursed Igbos, and we have swept it under carpet.

Like the Zulu King, the last outburst of the King of Lagos was a release out of the abundance of the heart of his people. Area Boys in Lagos are so emboldened since after the last elections, and we are sweeping it all under carpets. Ethno-phobic killings would have followed but for the grace of God upon Nigeria, and the average Yoruba man.

Xenophobia, and ethno-fobia has been brewing in the north and South West, and unless the incoming government opens up this carpet to deal with it , Nigeria sits on a keg of gun powder! It behooves GMB, to either dissolve the foundations of xenophobia in Nigeria, or nurture it to the peril of APC, and the nation.

Mr. Clement Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.