Xenophobia: PTECSSAN condemns attack on Nigerians, commends FG on recall of high commissioner
Joy Obakeye
The National Leadership of Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) has called on the Federal Government to rejig its foreign policy to focus more on the welfare of Nigerians irrespective of where they reside in the World to curtail further vilification and attack on Nigeria citizens.
The union also called on the federal government and South Africa government to expedite actions by genuinely exploring all diplomatic measures to nipping this very sad, an unfortunate and disturbing trend in the bud before it destroys the age-long diplomatic relationship between both countries.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary, PTECSSAN, Comrade Okonu Abdullahi, and the PTECSSAN MTN Branch Chairman, Comrade Elisha Adamu, said, “the barbaric attacks on Nigerian lives and livelihoods by South Africans started about two years ago and the South African Government failed to take proactive and preventive measures to stem the ugly tide.”
“The right of Africans to live peacefully as law-abiding residents in any country on the continent must be respected.”
“South Africans should not be oblivious of the immense contributions of the Nigerian Government and her people to the anti-apartheid struggle for their liberation when over $10.5m was donated to the South Africa Relief Fund by Nigerian workers and Students.”
“While we condemn in its entirety the barbaric actions of the South Africans, we must not fail to do same against the reprisal attacks on MTN Nigeria and other South African business interests in Nigeria.
We understand the pain and frustration of our people because of xenophobia going on in South Africa but we must not as a people succumb to the temptation of reprisal as this will be tantamount to stooping so low to the level of the South Africans.”
“We must know that any reprisal attack is uncivilized and will be counterpart productive, hence, condemnable.
“It must interest Nigerians to note that majority of members of Board of Directors of MTN Nigeria and other South Africa business interests in Nigeria are Nigerians who have contributed immensely and still contributing to the growth of this country in their various field of endeavours.
“Also, workers in MTN Nigeria and other businesses of South Africa origin are Nigerians, not South Africans. Therefore, those involved in the reprisal attacks must have a rethink and refrain from further attack in the interest of our economy and wellbeing.”
“It is irrational for Nigerians to attack Nigerians, their means and places of livelihood. Nigeria is currently battling with a high rate of unemployment and any act capable of worsening the surly and pitiable situation must be condemned, discouraged and resisted by all and sundry.
“It is beyond dispatching of special envoy to South Africa though it is commendable. Also,
commendable by the Nigerian government are the recall of her High Commissioner to South Africa and withdrawal from participation at the forthcoming World Economic Forum for Africa in the country.”
