WHEN SILENCE IS NO MORE GOLDEN: A CALL FOR DELIBERATE ACTION OF BALANCE AND ACTIVATION OF RECIPROCITY IN COMBATING XENOPHOBIA IN SOUTH AFRICA - BEING A PRESS TEXT BY COMRADE ASEFON SUNDAY

The wanton and reckless killings of Nigeria and other African nationals in South Africa has taken a ridiculous dimension. A dimension that now calls to question the significance of our bilateral agreement and continental conviviality. 

These killings and looting of Nigerian establishments and businesses has lingered unabated, signaling complacency on the part of South Africa authority. 

As if the killings, looting and vandalism targeted against Nigerians were not enough, the Deputy Minister of Police of South Africa also addressed the press fueling xenophobia. 

This can only explain the position of the South Africa government as the minister is yet to be relieved of his duty, reprimanded or ordered to issue apology.       

The silence and inaction of African Union (AU) and their refusal to place trade and economic sanction on South Africa to make a statement on AU stand concerning the killings of innocent and hard working individuals on South Africa soil suggest the existence of high level conspiracy in high places. 

More ridiculous is the belated, weak and incoherent effort of Federal Government of Nigeria efforts in putting an end to these killings and blackmail which has continue to dent our image amongst the comity of nations and this has only shown how unserious the government could be when it comes to protecting the lives and properties of the Nigerians both home and in the diapora.

It is on this premise, we call on the Federal Government to take a decisive action towards bringing an end to these killings and ensuring it put foreign policies in place that will make South Africa pay for the killings and vandalism against our people. 

Among other, we request the government quickly consider the following:  

1. Sanction South African economically and immediately repatriate the South African Ambassador/High Commissioner to Nigeria without any further delay.

2. Consider increasing tariff on any import coming from South Africa by at least 50% .

3. Ensure South Africa interests in Nigeria are taxed specially to pay for resettlement of Nigerians whose life investments were vandalized in South Africa or whose bread winners were killed.

4. Recall and Investigate Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa who allegedly lock the commissions door against Nigerians seeking refuge on Nigerian soil. 

5. Begin process of repatriating Nigerians who may wish to relocate back to Nigeria and put adequate provision in place to resettle them and reintegrate them into the society. We hope this should not be too much considering the resources committed to reintegrating killer Boko Haram repentant and killer armed bandit into the society. 

The Federal Government must not test the will of the Nigerian students and these demands and existing demands by the President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) must be met without any exemption.

Our staunch belief is that any government should be responsible to the people it serves and we behooves the government to show concern to the clamour and agitations of Nigerians living not only in South Africa but in other countries of the world.

Should the government fail to meet these demands, we will not hesitate to initiate processes to seek justice and atonement of the death of our people in our own way. The principle of reciprocity being an acceptable standard in international diplomacy shall be adopted. 

As we believe also the potency of balance of terror in neutralizing the rascality of weak and coward killers attacking Nigerians in South Africa. Comrade Asefon Sunday NANS president hopeful 2019.