Lawmaker wants House of Reps to abort recess over attacks on Nigerians in S’Africa

A member of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, on Tuesday implored the speaker of the house, Femi Gbajabiamila, to terminate the ongoing recess and attend to the killings of Nigerians in South Africa

Chinda made the call in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday.

South Africans on Sunday began fresh attacks, looting and burning of properties belonging to foreigners in Johannesburg.

Due to this, no fewer than three people were reported killed in the renewed attacks, the President of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), Adetola Olubajo, said on Monday.

Reacting to the incident, Hon. Chinda called for the reconvening of the house to resolve on the best way to protect Nigerians.

“There is no better reason to reconvene the House than to save the lives of Nigerians and protect our integrity as a nation,” he said.

He added that “Let the NASS reconvene now for one or two days to discuss and resolve on the best way to protect our people, who are even denied access to our country ( The Nigerian Embassy in SA).

“I call on the leadership of NASS to reconvene the Assembly immediately. Our citizens are killed and our nationhood threatened by South Africa.”

He said the house must take a clear position and urged the relevant agency of government to act.

Read also: Ndigbo residents in Benue raise alarm, say they are targets of murders, kidnapping

“It is snarls of responsiveness and irresponsibility on the part of government to stay one hour and do nothing while defenceless Nigerians are gruesomely killed in a foreign land without cause.

“We both as a nation and as Nigerians made a sacrifice for the independence of SA from minority white rule,” he said.

“Nigeria spent her money, boycotted international events, carried the crusade to all parts of the world.”

“There is no justification for SA to show such unconscionable attitude and devilish ingratitude to Nigeria.”

He said as parliamentarians, they will be failing in their duty if the parliament does not act promptly.

“We must call off the recess now in the overriding public interest. It’s a matter of extreme urgent public importance that we reconvene.”

Several Nigerians had lost their lives in different xenophobic attacks over the years.

The National Assembly had embarked on a seven weeks recess that commenced in July.

The lawmakers are expected to resume fully on September 24

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now