The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given 48
hours ultimatum to all South African companies in Nigeria to relocate
over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
The students gave the ultimatum at a peaceful demonstration at some
South African companies in Abuja on Thursday. During the march the
students carried a banner, which read: ‘’NANS against Xenophobic Attacks
on Nigerians.’’ While the students marched, the security men stood and
watched to ensure law and order.
The President of NANS, Mr Kadiri Aruna, said in an interview with
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at DSTV office, a South African company, in
Wuse 2, Abuja, that Nigerian students had resolved to condemn the
attacks. “We are saying that enough is enough as South Africans have
openly attacked and bullied Nigerians.’’ Aruna said that the protest
would also serve as a warning to other countries trying to underrate
Nigerians.
He said that after 48 hours, if nothing was done, messages would be
sent to students in all university campuses to bring down MTN masts all
over the country. Aruna said that DSTV and Shoprite would also be
affected as the union had put adequate strategies in place to make the
action effective. “All the South African business empires in Nigeria and
their collaborators in Nigeria will be affected.
“I don’t want to say we will be barbaric but we will not be lawful in
our actions, we will do it and face the consequences, enough of this
rubbish,’’ he said. Aruna stressed that the poor treatment being meted out to Nigerians was particularly insulting
given the role Nigeria played in ending the apartheid regime in South
Africa.
“Nigeria contributed 80 per cent of the freedom the South Africans
are enjoying today because we saved them from the jaws of apartheid.
“Who is South Africa to humiliate Nigeria? So they forget things so
soon, let them go back to history and records to see how much financial
assistance and what the country did to save them,’’ he said. The union
president said that the situation was inhuman and for this reason all
reasonable Nigerians must react. “In science they say you use malaria to
cure malaria, now you use madness to cure their madness, and that is
why we are advising them to leave Nigerian soil before 48 hours.’’
He said that the Federal Government should not wait till the dying
minute before evacuating Nigerians from South Africa. Aruna said it was
time for government not to only condemn the attacks but take a firm
stand by summoning South Africa’s high commissioner and if possible cut
diplomatic ties with that country. “Government should take
extra-diplomatic measures in dealing with the latest deadly assaults
because if nothing drastic is done it will become a regular occurrence.
“This is the time to place South Africa where it belongs,’’ he said.
He said that the last time the xenophobic attack happened nothing was
done, no action was taken and no arrest was made and that was why South
Africans repeated the attacks. Aruna said it was so unfortunate that
during the attacks the South African Government refused to take up its
responsibility of securing Nigerians and their properties.
“The government of South Africa is criminally quiet and they say
silence is consent, and their police are folding their hands while they
are killing Nigerians, this is conspiracy, enough is enough,’’ he said.
He said the peaceful rally would continue and spread across the country.
Over 50 police and, DSS operatives surrounded the DSTV premises and
along the street making it impossible for newsmen to contact any DSTV
officials for comments.
Nigerians in South Africa have allegedly taken up arms to defend
themselves against xenophobic attacks currently going on in the
country.
