War of words between Nigerians and South Africans

This is a post on one of South Africa news site,News24 attacking Nigerians for taking the rift between both countries too personal and for the harsh comment made by Nigerians to describe  their African brothers.

Following the storm in a teacup reaction of the Nigerian government regarding the deportation of numerous Nigerians in Johannesburg, news24 and other websites were flooded with comments from South Africans and Nigerians, defending the position of their countries.

In the meantime, the South Africans have apologised for their behaviour and under normal circumstances, the story should now be left to die. However it seems that the Nigerian government has smelled blood, and various of their news sites are proudly proclaiming a victory over South Africa.

The comments section of amongst others the Vanguard news in Nigeria, is unbelievably arrogant and aggressive towards South Africans. Most people claim that they “saved South Africa from slavery”, and that should ultimately give them a free pass into the country without harassment. Unfortunately it seems to be the attitude of their government as well. Furthermore they state that most South Africans are infected with HIV, so we should in fact get HIV certificates to enter Nigeria.

They also claim that our business interests in Nigeria should be stopped and companies such as MTN and DSTV should close their doors. Nigeria is portrayed as the giant of Africa, while South Africa is diminished to a country of HIV infected people who bow down to their white masters. Then the comments about us being Xenophobic and intolerant has also been actively promoted. More sinister motives are quoted, and it seems that there are some diplomatic issues boiling under the surface, such as power struggles within the African Union.

I prefer positive dialogue to mudslinging. However, I need to elaborate on some of these sweeping statements our brothers in Nigeria are making, and I sincerely hope that I can point out the logical flaws in many of their views. I hope that they can see this as not an insult to their country, but rather a basis to start looking at their own issues, and hopefully they will be able to understand the situation from the South African perspective.

Drugs, prostitution and kidnapping is rife and Nigerians in South Africa operate many syndicates. No South African in their right mind will blame all Nigerians for this behaviour, but unfortunately, most of us has had run ins with these individuals. This has led to police crack downs and a general mistrust of Nigerians living in South Africa. This is the cause for the suspicious attitude towards Nigerians in our country.

Secondly, I am not diminishing the role that Nigeria played to assist in the democratic election process of South Africa. The democratic election process was mainly developed through decades of talks and internal protests that came from within South Africa. The people who suffered the most under apartheid, was ultimately the ones that sacrificed their lives in order to establish a peaceful nonracial government. For the Nigerians to claim that they were the victors in this battle, without spilling one drop of blood is not only ignorant, but extremely arrogant. The struggle was won from within.

Race issues will not be understood by Nigerians, as much as we don't understand issues between Christians and Muslims in their country. Our constitution views all our citizens as equal, being white, black or Indian. This is the way we operate. We are all Africans in South Africa, and to mention that blacks bow down to whites, and that only whites are active in the economy is false information. It is a complex situation at times, and we have so much to overcome, but we are working amongst ourselves to better the lives of the underprivileged in the way that we see fit.

In terms of trade partners and the role of Nigeria on the South African economy. There has been direct threats that Nigeria will investigate the role South African companies play in Nigeria. They specifically mention MTN and DSTV. We have many multinational companies operating on our shores, and elsewhere in the world. We are not only about DSTV and MTN, so I am sure our economy can survive even should the Nigerians be so petty to relook their position.

I still maintain this is a storm in a teacup and our actions were not malicious. You must respect the rule of law if you travel abroad. We are yellow fever free, and we would not like to introduce the virus into our country again. I myself have a yellow fever card. It is one injection, once in your life. I use it to travel all over Africa. You need this if you travel to Kenya, Tanzania etc. The fact that I am a fellow African does not give me free entry into any other African state. Easy as that!

And the comments about HIV and Aids are unfair and unjust. Our average life expectancy is very low at an average of 51.6, but Nigeria (without HIV) is even lower at 50.6. So both countries have to work on Health issues.

Hope we can understand and learn to respect each other.

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Nigeria deports 28 South Africans as row deepens

Minister of Interior-Mr Abba Moro

NIGERIA hit back at South Africa last night.Twenty-eight South Africans were denied entry into Lagos – a tit for tat that has deepened the row between the two countries.South Africa last Friday deported 125 Nigerians from the Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johanesburg after denying them entry into the country for allegedly possessing fake yellow fever certificates. The Federal Government frowned at the action.

The 28 passengers flew into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight at about 9.30pm.They were expected to be deported last night or this morning.

A source said: "The Federal Government decided to deny these 28 South Africans entry because of invalid documents and relevant health certificate clearance.

"We are also deporting them back to South Africa. The Presidency has been notified of this action.

"We will no longer overlook certain procedures which we have condoned in the spirit of African brotherhood."Earlier yesterday, Nigeria had threatened to retaliate South Africa’s maltreatment of Nigerians.

Interior Minister Albo Moro said: "I want to assure you on one thing. The Federal Government has the capacity to reciprocate appropriately if it is found that (the deportation) was not done in good faith."

He added: "At the moment, Nigeria maintains a very cordial diplomatic relations with South Africa and I can assure you that we will react appropriately if it is found that South Africa has taken unfriendly action against Nigeria.Moro spoke to reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Also yesterday, the Federal Government summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Mambolo.

Besides, the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, to appear before it today to clarify Nigeria’s relationship with other African countries.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, asked the Federal Government to apply the principle of reciprocity in dealing with South Africa.Mambolo was at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain why South Africa maltreated Nigerian travellers last Friday.

According to sources, when he got to the Ministry at about 3pm, Mambolo was asked to see the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, instead of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.A source, who spoke in confidence, said: "When the South African High Commissioner got to the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary was directed to ask him to explain why 125 Nigerians were deported without diplomatic courtesy.

"He spent about an hour interacting with the Permanent Secretary, but Nigeria was not convinced about the explanation given by South Africa.

"We are demanding unreserved apology from South Africa for this ill-treatment of Nigerian travellers or else, we will take more drastic actions."

Ashiru confirmed the invitation of the High Commissioner but he declined further comments.

The Minister is to appear before the House Committee today to clarify Nigeria’ relationship with its African countries.The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, said it was disturbed by the series of negative attacks on Nigerians and its embassies, especially in the sub region.

Elendu-Ukeje recalled the recent lock-up of some Nigerians in Togo without any explanation to the Nigerian government.She said: "We are indeed worried about all these indignation and scorn Nigerians are subjected to all over the world, especially by sister African nations. This calls for a review of our relationship with these countries.

"So, we have invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs to a meeting on Tuesday to come and explain to us, our relationship with these countries and why Nigerians are being subjected to ridicule all over the world," she said.To Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, the illegal deportation of 125 Nigerians by the South African government is "inhuman".

In a statement in Abuja, she faulted the "continuous unwarranted hostilities against Nigerians by the South Africa government".

She said: "It is pathetic that 125 Nigerians, the highest so far, which include women and children, were delayed for 24 hours without water and food in an inhuman condition before being bundled back to Nigeria".

"Do Nigeria ask South Africans to fill Yellow card when coming to Nigeria? Even then, passengers must have passed through this process while applying for visa in the Embassy. Why treat Nigerians with scorn and indignation. This is really appalling."Is this the way to pay Nigeria back with their kind gesture? This is unfair and un-African."

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also recalled how South African businesses, such as MTN and Multi-Choice – owner of DSTV - among others, are thriving in Nigeria better than any part of Africa without any form of molestation from Nigerian government.

The lawmaker recalled how the South African government stopped charging Nigerians deportation fees when Nigeria Embassy in South Africa under the High Commissioner Mohammed Marwa introduced it.

She said: "I call on the Federal Government to protect her citizens by applying the law of reciprocity to South Africans coming to Nigeria by introducing the same stringent treatment meted to Nigerians going to South Africa."

Speaking on Nigeria’s Porous border, Moro said: "It is unfair to say that we don’t know the category of persons that enter Nigeria. Nigeria, like any other big country, has this problem of border porousity. I agree with you that Nigeria’s border as vast as it is, is porous to some extent but that is not to say that we don’t know the category of people that enter Nigeria."

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Federal Government to retaliate the deportation of 125 Nigerians by the South African authorities if,,

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Abba Moro, has said that the Federal Government would retaliate the deportation of 125 Nigerians by the South African authorities if the deportation was done in bad faith.

The minister made the announcement while speaking with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday in Abuja.

125 Nigerians were on March 3, deported from South Africa for allegedly being in possession of fake yellow fever vaccination cards.

The travelers, who arrived in South Africa on March 1, were deported in two flights, 75 of them aboard South African Airways and 50 in Arik Air.

Moro said that government was trying to find out the details of the deportation before appropriate action would be taken.

“At the moment, the information that is available to government is that some Nigerians travelled to South Africa without appropriate travel documents, especially the yellow fever card.

“We are trying to find out the details of the situation.

“I want to assure you on one thing: that Federal Government has the capacity to reciprocate appropriately if it finds out that it is not done in good faith.

“I can assure you that we will react appropriately if it is found that South Africa has taken unfriendly action against Nigeria,” the minister said.

However, Federal Government through the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, had decried the deportation.

Ashiru had also directed the Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa to lodge a formal protest over the action of South African immigration officials.

The minister also disclosed that government had signed several joint agreements with neighbouring countries to step up security at the nation’s borders.

He said that the action was taken against the backdrop of terrorist activities in the country and the fact that people were coming from outside the country to perpetrate the acts.

“Last week, we signed with Cameroon, we have such arrangement with Niger and Chad.

“If you don't have any legitimate business doing in Nigeria the immigration service within the level of their own capacity will not allow you to enter Nigeria,” he said.

The minister also denied allegations of not following the ECOWAS protocols in the recent deportation of Chadians and Nigeriens.

He said that the Nigeria Immigration Service had not, at any time, meted unfair treatment to ECOWAS citizens in the country.

“The fact is that we keep insisting that ECOWAS protocol which provides for free movement does not provide for free lunch in the sense that you can just wake up from your bed and say you want to go to any African country.

“You must also come with appropriate documents; there is ECOWAS travel document that the member nations issue out to their citizens.

“If you come to Nigeria without the travel documents, then certainly you have not followed the ECOWAS protocol, then you are illegal alien,” he said.

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