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#SayNoToXenophobia: President of Nigerian Senate, Lawan, warns South African counterpart to “act fast”

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Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has said Nigeria would no longer tolerate hate crimes in any form against its citizens who are doing legitimate businesses in South Africa.

Lawan was weighing in on the worsening xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, in which Nigerians have been major victims.

In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, Lawan said Nigeria had had enough of its citizens being targets of those attacks.

He noted that the Senate was closely observing the situation and urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to accept nothing but the immediate cessation of hostility to Nigerians living in South Africa.

“Xenophobic violence is most condemnable anywhere; more so in South Africa, a country whose citizens benefitted from the unwavering support and solidarity of Africans and freedom lovers across the world in their historic struggle against apartheid”, he said.

“More disturbing, however, is that these attacks indicate the neglect of educating the younger generations on the sacrifices that Africans proudly made towards expunging the scourges of colonialism and apartheid from their continent.

READ ALSO: SA police arrest 70 anti-foreigner protesters in fallout of xenophobic attacks

“The enormous contribution of Nigeria to this historic struggle is underscored by its recognition as a frontline state in the prolonged confrontation against the powerful racist regime that had held generations of Southern Africans in bondage and subhuman conditions.

“This recognition is in spite of the fact that Nigeria does not share geographical borders with the subregion and was far removed from the direct consequences of apartheid.

Lawan said that it was an unacceptable irony that a section of South Africans would so soon, choose other Africans in their country as the targets of mindless violent attacks over frustrations for which the innocent victims have no control.

“I believe we have faced enough, we will no longer take it anymore. The South African parliament must act fast to put a stop to this menace.

Speaking on steps the Federal Government had taking in addressing the issue, he noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Tuesday summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has also dispatched a special envoy to meet with the South African authorities, in addition to scheduling a presidential visit to South Africa for discussions with the government of that country on how to end the attacks and redress the current situation.

“Every step necessary must be taken in protecting law-abiding foreigners, including Nigerians, and their businesses from hate crimes in South Africa.

“It is noteworthy that South Africans and their businesses are prospering from the clement environment that Nigeria offers to all without discrimination. We demand no less from them.”

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